March 2005
EDITORIAL
We cheered them all to the meet, shared their fruitcake and port,
heard their defiant speeches, and cheered them all out on the first
post-ban hunt. The great crowd which gathered at the Bibury Court
Hotel on 19th February was in no doubt: hunting with hounds has a
future as illustrious as its long past. Its time will come again. Long
Live Liberty!
And now another thing. Every age has its silliness, and ours has the
mania for apologizing, which must follow anything which is
deemed what the prim disapprovingly call ‘insensitive and
inappropriate behaviour’. In the past few weeks, Prince Harry
insensitively wore inappropriate fancy dress, The Labour Party
behaved insensitively in publishing inappropriate adverts. Mayor
of London, Ken Livingstone behaved insensitively to a reporter by
comparing him inappropriately, and this morning, I read in the
newspaper that steam railway enthusiasts are deemed to behave
insensitively with ‘a display of offensive and unsuitable military
uniforms and insignia’, when some of them turn up on WW2 reenactment weekends in German uniforms. Jon Pridmore of the
National Railway Museum said ‘It is totally inappropriate for
people to dress up as Nazis on our railways.’ Oh really, why?
But of course all of these insensitive people are forced to
apologise, and are often accused of offering the ‘wrong’ sort of
apology. And so the absurd band-wagon of nonsense rumbles on.
Equally potty are the apologies for events of long ago. However,
when the Pope apologises for the medieval Crusades, or Americans
for plantation slavery, at least it does not much impinge on present
actions. When accusations of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ and the
wrong sort of apology are used in argument to question our
constitution, our political processes, and even what happens on
private railways, then it does matter.
I forget who, but someone terribly famous once said ‘Never
apologise, never explain.’ A little hard, but at least let us keep
some sense of proportion.
This month in PP, you will find all the usual news and views
around the parishes, arguments for and against music in church,
and on page 31, Part One of a fascinating study of the Filkins
Tornado which ripped through the village and beyond last March.
This is adapted from a paper given at a Torro (Tornado and Storm
Research Organisation) conference and from the web site of the
authors. I warn you that a science dictionary may well be required!
Lastly, if you enjoy PP, do send your donation for 2005 via your
village representative/ correspondent or directly to Ellie Maughan
(our Treasurer).
BENEFICE SERVICES
2”a March
Compline
NUW
9.00pm Broadwell
NUW
6‘h March - IVth Sunday of Lent, Mothering Sunday HM
EJ
8.00am Kencot
Holy Communion
9.OOam
Combined Holy Communion EJ
NUW
Holwell/Westwell
Holy Communion
AP
9.OOam Shilton
Family Communion
HM
10.00am Filkins
Parish Communion
RM
10.30am Alvescot
Matins
10.30am Broadwell
Mothering Sunday Service HM
HM
10.30am Langford
Evensong
NUW
6.OOpm B Bourton
Youth Service
EJ
6.OOpm Shilton
Compline
HM
9th March
EJ
9.OOpm Kencot
HM
13‘h March - Vth Sunday of Lent
RM
9.OOam Shilton
Holy Communion
NUW
10.30am
Combined Parish
Kencot/Broadwell
Communion
11.OOam L Faringdon Matins
4.00pm Langford
Evensong
6.OOpm Alvescot
Evensong
6.OOpm Westwell
Evensong
16‘h March
Compline
9.OOpm Westwell
Blessing of the Palms, then procession to...
20‘h March - Palm
Benefice Eucharist Service HM, EJ & NUW
Sunday
Evensong
HM
10.00am B Poggs
HM
10.30am Filkins
NUW
6.00pm Holwell
HM
HM, EJ & NUW
21s‘ March - Monday in Holy Week
HM, EJ & NUW
9.00pm L Faringdon Compline
NU-W
22”a March - Tuesday in Holy Week
TF
9.OOpm Holwell
Compline
HM
23‘a March - Wednesday in Holy Week
EJ
9.OOpm Kelmscott Compline
24‘h March - Maundy Thursday
7.30pm Shilton
Benefice Eucharist Service
25‘h March - Good
Benefice Service
Friday
Holy Communion
2.OOpm Langford
Holy Communion
27t6 March - Easter
Family Communion
Sunday
Combined Holy Communion
9.OOam B Bourton
3
9.OOam Langford
9.OOam Shilton
9.OOam
Westwell/Holwell
9.30am Broadwell
Parish Communion RM
10.00am Filkins
Family Communion NUW
10.30am Alvescot
Family Communion EJ
10.30am Kelmscott Family Communion HM
11.OOam Kencot
Parish Communion GE
11.OOam L Faringdon
Parish Communion RM
There is a communion service every Wednesday at 10.00am at Black
Bourton
Combined services will be in the first-named church
SERVICE CELEBRANTS
Geoffrey Edwards
AP
Arthur Pont EJ
Liz Johnson
GE Roland Meredith
HM Harry MacInnes NUW Neville UsherRM
Wilson
TF
Tom Farrell
THE LECTIONARY
6’ March - IVth Sunday of Lent, Mothering
Sunday (P)
Exodus 2.1-10 Psalm 34
2 Corinthians 1.3-7 Luke 2.33-35
13‘h March - Vth Sunday of Lent (P)
Ezekiel 37. 1-14
Psalm 130
Romans 8.6-11
John 11.1-45
20‘’ March - Palm Sunday ®
Matthew 21.1-11
Psalm 118.19-29
Isaiah 50.4-9a Philippians 2.5-11
21s‘ March -Monday in Holy Week ®
Isaiah 42.1-9 Psalm 36.5-11
Hebrews 9.11-15
John 12.1-11
22”a March - Tuesday in Holy Week ®
Isaiah 49.1-7 Psalm 71.1-8
1 Corinthians 1.18-31 John 12.20-36
23‘a March - Wednesday in Holy Week
Isaiah 50.4-9a Psalm 70
Hebrews 12.1-3
John 13.21-32
24” March - Maundy Thursday (W (HC)R)
Exodus 12.1-4, 11-14 Psalm 116.1.10-end
1 Corinthians 11.23-26
John 13.1-17, 31b35
25‘h March - Good Friday ®
Isaiah 52, 13-53-end Psalm 22
Hebrews 10.16-25
John18.1-19.end
26‘h March
Job 14.1-14 Psalm 31.14, 15-16
1 Peter 4.1-8 Matthew 27.57-66
27‘h March - Easter Sunday (W or Gold)
Colossians 3.1-4
John 20.1-18
4
THE RECTOR’S LETTER
Dear Friends
Acts of power have always captivated the imagination of people
throughout the world. The vivid picture of two airliners bringing
down the twin towers of the World Trade centre remains engraved
in the memory. Similarly, the terrifying force of the American
‘Shock and Awe’ invasion of Iraq had people mesmerised in front
of their TV screens.
These were events which brought home in an unforgettable way
the extraordinary power which men and women can wield in our
modern world. But even more terrifying have been the scenes of
the Tsunami sweeping over the South East Asia landscape leaving
death and destruction in its wake on a scale we had thought
unimaginable. Is there any power to compare with such as we have
seen in these last 5 years?
There was a demonstration of power 2000 years ago that the
church celebrates at Easter, which is of a different order to
anything we have known in the whole of history. We may be able
to plumb the depths of the ocean and send Space craft spinning out
to Saturn, but once a person has died - really died - past
resuscitation of any kind, there is nothing more that we can do.
Medical science has progressed beyond the dreams of past
generations, but while it can do much, it is as far as ever from
overcoming death. Once a person has died, there really is nothing
more we can do.
It is at this point supremely that human weakness becomes
apparent. Nothing expresses our helplessness so vividly. There are
all kinds of abilities given to us, but only God can raise the dead.
To prove it, he raised Jesus once and for all. In that Resurrection of
Jesus lies a universal promise. When we reach the end of our
resources, faith has its opportunity. St Paul talks of an experience
which caused him to completely despair of life, but he goes on
“This happened that we might rely, not on ourselves, but on God
who raises the dead”.
Despair or faith: that is the choice which faces us continually. We
often take it for granted that there is no choice but to be cynical.
We say that in certain circumstances we can’t help it. After all we
are only human! But God has unleashed a power which can lift us
above our human weakness. There is no need to despair about my
selfishness, my failures, my circumstances, my future. The
discovery of my human weakness is the first step towards
experiencing the power of God. As I let myself go to Him, he can
raise me above all the things that are beyond me to handle.
Perhaps over Holy week and Easter we might be open to
acknowledge our own human frailty and weakness and discover
that especially in those places of our vulnerability God’s love and
power is present. Harry MacInnes
DIOCESAN EUCHARIST
Each year on the Tuesday in Holy Week, there is a special service
in Christ Church Cathedral at which the Bishops and other clergy
and lay people renew their ordination and baptism promises. This
takes place during the celebration of the Holy Communion and
includes the Blessing of the oils which are used at baptism and
Confirmation, and as healing for the sick.
This year the service is on Tuesday 22°d March at 11.OOam.
The Bishop of Oxford will preside at the service, and the preacher
will be the Bishop of Reading. ‘Our’ Bishop of Dorchester will
probably also be present. You are all invited to come to this special
service, no tickets are needed. Parking is available on Broad Walk
(enter by the Meadow Gate next door to the college).
It is suggested that you might like to bring a packed lunch to the
service, which we normally eat in St Aldates Church Centre just
opposite the Cathedral, and where tea and coffee are provided.
If you have not been before, do come! It is a most inspiring act of
service, and it is good to join together in worship in our own
Cathedral, with our own Bishops. Come on your own if you can,
but if you need a lift, ask the Vicar if he has room in his car.
RM
BENEFICE CHOIR
Wanda ‘Keep a song in your heart’Adams bas retired from the
Benefice musical fray,
and,writes.•
he last years of music ministry in the benefice have been very
special in that we started with absolutely zero and have drawn
together a very dedicated and committed group of people who have
not only grown
spiritually, and as a team, but have contributed greatly in joining
the various
parishes in worship together.
We have laughed, cried and prayed together and I shall miss them
all greatly. I would like to say thank you for the lovely flowers that
were given to me in February and for the beautiful set of wine
glasses that the choir so kindly gave me. Every blessing to
everyone, and (of course!) keep a song in your heart.
Wanda Adams
Corinna Rock of Holwell adds. s A parishioner in one of the smallest, furthest flung corners of the
Shill Valley and Broadshire Benefice, the Choir has meant a
chance to meet, and sing with, members from all the other parishes
and to take
part in the Benefice Service, which are such a contrast to our
individual
parish services. Wanda got together a disparate group (experienced
and inexperienced, confident and out of practice) with whom she
worked tirelessly, finding music, cajoling and encouraging and
praying so that we might achieve something which would make a
worthwhile contribution to the monthly Benefice Service.
We owe her so many thanks for her enthusiasm and dedication, for
the enjoyment she has given us and for her consequent sense of
community with member of the other parishes. It is sad that she
now feels she must relinquish the leadership of the choir that she
has mustered over the past two years, and we will all miss her.
CR
MUSIC & WORSHIP
The role of music in worship has long been a contentious one.
Some have maintained that anything so eapressive of the human
heart must be a Good Thing, and thus fitting with which to glorify
God. While others have said that anything one can dance to must
the work of the devil and thus has no place in church! Erasmus
(1466-1536) puts the case against music in church:
We have brought into our churches certain operatic and theatrical
music; such a confused, disorderly chattering of some words as I
hardly think was ever in any of the Grecian or Roman theatres. The
church rings with the noise of trumpets, pipes, and dulcimers; and
human voices strive to bear their part with them.
Men run to church as to a theatre, to have their ears tickled. And
for this end organ makers are hired with great salaries, and a
company of boys, who waste all their time learning these whining
tones.
Erasmus (from his ‘Commentary on I Cor.’)
On the other hand, and much more recently, CS Lewis states the
case for music as a legitimate part of Christian worship:
J t seems to me that we must define rather carefully the way, or
ways, in which music can glorify God. There is a sense in which
all natural agents, even inanimate ones, glorify God continually by
revealing the powers He has given them. And in that sense we, as
natural agents, do the same. On that level our wicked actions, in so
far as they exhibit our skill and strength, may be said to glorify
Good, as well as our good actions. An excellently performed piece
of music, as natural operation which reveals in a very high degree
the peculiar powers given to man, will thus always glorify God
whatever the intention of the performers may be.
But that is a kind of glorifying which we share with the ‘dragons
and great deeps’, with the ‘frost and snows’. What is looked for in
us, as men, is another
kind of glorifying, which depends on intention. How easy or how
hard it may be for a whole choir to preserve that intention through
all the discussions and decisions, all the corrections and the
disappointments, all the temptations to pride, rivalry and ambition,
which precede the performance of a great work, I (naturally) do not
know. But it is on the intention that all depends.
When it succeeds, I think the performers are the most enviable of
men; privileged while mortals to honour God like angels and, for a
few golden moments, to see spirit and flesh, delight and labour,
skill and worship, the natural and the supernatural, all fused into
that unity they would have had before the Fall.
CS Lewis (from his essay ‘On Church Music)
CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
Our April meeting is on Wednesday 6‘h April at 2.45pm in the
Methodist Chapel Schoolroom, Filkins. Major Thornton of The
Salvation Army in Oxford will be our speaker. All are welcome to
join us for this meeting.
MAB
FROM THE REGISTERS
HOLY MARRIAGE
8‘h January
Filkins
Stewart Campbell to Catherine Jane
Campbell
HOLY BURIAL
8‘h January
Shilton
Thanksgiving service for the life of
Mervyn
Whitfield aged 69 years
215Y January Holwell Burial of Ashes of Reginald FreemanThomas aged
96 years
4‘h February Filkins Jonathan Neil Hagues aged 51 years
8‘h February Filkins Richard Sarjeant aged 62 years.
MEDITATION ON DEATH
W e seem to give them back to you, 0 God, who gave them to us.
Yet as you did not lose them in giving, so we do not lose them by
their return. Not as the world gives, do you give, 0 lover of Souls.
What you give you do not take away, for what is yours is ours if
we are yours. And life is eternal and love immortal, and death is
only an horizon, and an horizon is nothing save the limit of our
sight. Lift us up, strong Son of God, that we may see further;
cleanse our eyes that we may see more clearly; draw us closer to
yourself that we may know ourselves to be nearer to our loved
ones who are with you. And while you prepare a place for us,
prepare us also for that happy place, that where you are we may be
for evermore.
Bede Jarrett (1888 -1934), OP and once ‘the best known priest in
the country’
ROUND THE VILLAGES
ALVESCOT St Peter’s
AUCTION OF GOODS
Belated news of the successful Grand Auction of Goods held in the
Village Hall on 8‘h November last year. Despite vicious weather
conditions that night, there was a good turnout of bidders, who
contributed to splendid net
proceeds of £877.
My thanks goes in particular to those who kindly contributed; both
individuals, local shops and businesses. Many items went for a
song as it was something of a buyer’s market that night. In
addition, thanks to all of you who helped on the evening, including
our auctioneer, Peter.
TSUNAMI APPEAL
The Tsunami Lunch held at The Old Rectory on 10th February
raised £720 to help the survivors of the disaster in Sri Lanka. Many
thanks to all who came or sent donations - it is a marvellous result!
Diana Bagnall
EASTER CHURCH DECORATION
Everyone is welcome to come along at 10.00am on Saturday 26‘h
March to join together and decorate the church for Easter. We
would also like lots of daffodils and other Spring flowers, blossom
and foliage so if you are able to bring some they will all be
gratefully received.
Lilies for remembrance scheme: If you would like to give a
donation for lilies (and who it is for) in memory of someone
special, please do so to me before
21 S‘ March.
The names of those being remembered will be by the lilies in
church over Easter. If you would like more details or would like to
give flowers or greenery but can’t come on the 26‘h please contact
Jayne Lewin on 01993 842435.
BRIDGE DRIVE
There will be a Bridge Drive at The Old Rectory on Friday March
4th at 6.30 for 7.OOpm. Tickets are available at £15 (including
supper and a glass of wine) from Dee Stoot (01993 842938).
ST PETER’S INFANT SCHOOL
As the children arrived back in school after the Christmas holiday
they had all heard news of the Earthquake in the Indian Ocean and
the consequences of this on the surrounding villages and towns.
Some of the older children started
__ following the diaries of journalists on the BBC website and
decided that they wanted to help. The
children decided they would hold a bring and buy sale and a raffle
and they
would sell tea and cakes, that they would make themselves.
All the children helped, with the support of parents and staff and
they managed to raise an incredible £450 in just one hour on the
afternoon of 14‘h January. Many thanks to all those who supported
the event and helped the children organise it.
All the children received Brazilian Soccer Training this term and
several attended further training during the February break in
Carterton. Some of our youngest children certainly show excellent
co-ordination and skill with a football!
Barry Armstrong, the LEA officer responsible for Child Protection,
visited the school and provided a very interesting presentation for
staff and governors on issues regarding the protection of the
children in our care. This highlighted the enormous responsibility
of the school in safeguarding our children and the importance of all
those who take on that responsibility, in understanding the
vulnerability of some children in our society. At St Peter’s we are
fortunate to have children who are well cared for and loved but we
must not for a moment become complacent towards our
responsibility.
On a lighter note, the staff and governors enjoyed a skittles
evening at The Plough. The good food and great company made
for an excellent evening.
During January, the Reverend MacInnes, Jenny Kane, Peter
Bagnall and Roger Trafford have all taken assemblies and the
children have thoroughly enjoyed their visits and the opportunity
to talk to them afterwards, particularly the pancake making!
All staff attended the launch of the new Cultural Loans Service at
St Joseph’s School and were excited by the fascinating boxes of
artefacts available for schools to borrow to support the curriculum.
We have already had a visit from Peter Killick who provided
a‘Soap and Bubbles’ workshop for the Year 1 children all about
the history of washday. We look forward to his return to talk about
the history of toys and land transport. This is a wonderful resource
that our school looks forward to using on a regular basis!
World Book Day is just around the corner, on the 3‘d March and
our school’s bookweek will be the week beginning the 7th March.
There will be a bookfair
in school all week, opening at 2.45pm daily which anyone is
welcome to visit and James Carter, the children’s poet will be
visiting the school to work with the children and read his work on
the 8‘” March.
Our annual Easter service will take place on 24‘h March at St
Peter’s Church. We will process from the school to the Church at
2.OOpm. If you would like to join us then we would love to see
you there.
Sandie Morris is holding a jumble sale at the village hall on 2”d
April and the Sixties Night will be held on 30‘h April. Tickets will
be available from the school office nearer the time but make sure
you put the date in your diary now!
Sam King
BLACK BOURTON St Mary’s
VILLAGE ASSOCIATION
The Village Association AGM will be held on Tuesday lst‘ March
2005 at Wellstodd’s Cottage Garden, Burford Road from 8.OOpm.
Letters inviting every household have now been circulated.
Please note that the meeting will provide the forum for discussion
about the proposal to hold a Party in the Play Park on Saturday
18‘h June 2005. If anyone has any questions or worries about this
proposal, please come to the meeting and talk to us.
Also if anyone is interested in joining the Village Association,
please contact me on 01993 843746 or email Jackie@evensaul.org.
Jackie Garrett
PLANT SALE
Advance notice of the 3rd Annual Charity Plant Sale. If you
enjoyed the sales in 2002 and 2003 (or if you wondered what you
were missing!), I do hope you can come to the 2005 sale on 17‘h
September.
Liz Welch
PARISH COUNCIL
Are you interested in the future of your village?
Do you want to know what is going on in West Oxfordshire? Have
you thought of being a Parish Councillor?
Now is your opportunity! Election of Parish Councillors will take
place
„
sometime in May 2005. If you would like to learn more about what
is involved and/or register your interest, contact any one of us
listed below
Frank Stewart Wood 01993 842397 Steve Dickson 01993 840710
Anne Sherriff 01993 842273 James Wildman
01993 842582
Or come to the next Parish Council meeting on Wednesday 23‘d
March at 7.30pm in the Church
BROADWELL
St Peter & St Paul’s
HUGH & MARY PESCOD
I am sure that everybody in the village will wish to wish Hugh &
Mary Pescod much happiness in their new life up North. They will
be greatly missed by us all; not least for the continuous
contributions they have both made to events in the village; the
bicycle rides, church flowers, harvest lunches, and for being
unobtrusive ‘helping hands’ in so many ways. Be happy, Hugh &
Mary, and thank you. We will miss you greatly.
JG
ANNUAL MEETINGS
In April there will be both the Annual Parochial Church Council
Meeting, and the Annual Parish Meeting. As these are Annual
Meetings, everybody can come and make their points. Please do
come; better than grumbling afterwards! The exact dates in April
have yet be decided (watch Aprils issue of Parish Pump).
BROADSHIRES PRE-SCHOOL
Due to demand we are extending our sessions and have afternoon
places available on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. For
further details or to arrange a visit please contact Jackie Overton
on 01367 860729 (Tues-Fri).
This term our topic has been ‘Ourselves’ and the children have
enjoyed modelling clay skeletons, taking their pulses and making
musical instruments to play and listen to. They have also been
tasting different foods including pancakes on Pancake Tuesday and
a stir-fry to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Next term we will be
thinking about ‘Disabilities and we are looking forward to a visit
from a lady and her guide dog.
Alison Rodger
FILKINS & BROUGHTON POGGS St Peter’s
NEIL HAGUES
You often heard Neil Hagues before you saw him as he pounded
the Broadshire lanes, sprinting when most of us would have
plodded at best, his distinctive breathing technique suggestive of a
high powered steam engine just getting into its swing. Since
student days, running had been one of the great passions of his life,
leading him, amongst other places, to a successful completion of
the New York Marathon in 1979. He was also an enthusiastic
golfer, and his annual pilgrimage to the British Open was always
one of the year’s highlights for him. Add to this his unflinching
support for Crystal Palace FC, and a picture begins to emerge of a
man for whom sport played an important role.
There was, of course, a lot more to Neil than that. An able scholar,
he went on, unusually, to secure the degrees of BSc, MA and MSc
at the universities of Cardiff, Lancaster and Surfing respectively.
Highly qualified, he was snapped up by the Royal Military College
of Science at Shrivenham. It was here that he met his wife-to-be
Julia. They married in 1986, and shortly afterwards moved to
Filkins, where they were joined by twins Woody and Jamie and
third son Dominic within three years.
Neil’s statistical capability took him to an important post in the
Assessment Unit at the National Foundation for Educational
Research, where he continued to work happily until Christmas
2004. As with so much in the life of this very active man, his
approach to work was meticulously planned. He would leave
Filkins just before seven each morning, drive to Didcot Parkway
and catch the train to Slough, reversing the journey each evening to
get in just after seven. A long working day - but his approach to
this, as to everything else he undertook, was unfailingly cheerful
and can-do.
Nowhere was his strong, generous and optimistic spirit more
evident than in his dealings with the illness that eventually claimed
him. To his neighbours’ astonishment, he would bounce back from
surgery or extended spells of chemotherapy by running the lanes
again within weeks, or managing the vast Sunday bonfires for
which he had become well known in Hietts Gardens. Less than
four weeks before he died, he was sitting in a stand at Craven
Cottage, wrapped in the claret and blue scarf his mother had
knitted him as a boy, cheering his beloved team on. Palace lost 3-1,
but defeat hardly seemed to tarnish his enjoyment of the day, his
relish for the moment.
Every year Neil would carefully note the date the first daffodil
appeared in the
lane leading to the family home. This Spring, sadly, he will not be
here to do so. Those of us who knew Neil, knew his energy and
optimism, or were touched by his gentleness and kindness, are the
richer for the experience. He leaves Julia and their three wonderful
sons. He leaves, too, his grieving parents, and brother Ian, who
delivered the funeral address so well. He will be missed, but never
forgotten, and his inspiration, to make the very most of all that life
has to offer, whatever hardships we must face, will live on.
PL
Julia, Jamie, Woody and Dominic add: We would like to thank
everyone for their exceptional kindness over the last few weeks. It
is fantastic to live in a community where so many people are there
for us, ready both to help and support us when needed. Thank you.
FILKINS FLOWERS
6th,13th & 20,h March Lent (no flowers)
27‘h March
Easter flowers - all to help
OH NO IT WASN’T, OH YES IT WAS!
January saw Filkins Theatre strutting its stuff in After Cinders:
What happened next?’ Our woman-in-the-stalls, Barbara Browne,
reveals all..
While Cinderella and Prince Charming were away on honeymoon,
audiences at the Filkins Village Hall enjoyed a behind-the-schemes
glimpse of what happened next. It all happened the last week in
January, and the Filkins Theatre group proved itself to be a cast for
all ages, with its thespians ranging from a mere 5 years old to a
nifty 90!
Despite a lot of ‘rhubarb, rhubarb’ and the repeated prediction that
‘We’re all doomed’, to quote the dashing-across-the-stage
Mangelworzel (Oliver Choyce), the performance was anything but.
While this American reviewer has yet to fully understand the
enthusiasm with which Englishmen indulge in crossdressing,
bosom-boosting and limp-wristing, Jeremy Irwin-Singer and Paul
Molyneaux triggered gales of laughter while oozing harmless
scheming from every pore as the ugly social-climbing stepsisters.
Complete with cherry cheeks, hyper-pursed lips, and fluorescent
pink and green wigs, they were quite irresistible!
The stepsisters were joined in their scheming by reverse crossdressing Sue Ashforth-Smith, who looked and sounded suitably
Italian as the wheelingdealing TV executive Signor Dandidi.
Making his debut in Filkins but bringing many years of experience
treading the boards with the Cotswold Arcadians, Eric Partington
was deliciously evil and much hissed at as the baddie Australian
Blooper Burdock. Another Arcadian, the skyscraping Jack Hawkes
stood firm and intimidating as the Queen’s loyal Lord Chamberpot
in a land obsessed with all things great and smelling of rhubarb.
Speaking of ‘Queenie’, Pat Scott played the venerable Queen
Tarara with her customary skill and bravely balanced what looked
like Mont Blanc atop her head in the final scene. Lord Snowball
(Oliver Ashforth-Smith) did his best to get some scintillating
photos of her for the Parish Pump, which rumour has it will pay
good money! Even Mistress Meg (Rachel Taylor) seemed to think
this was a reasonable idea, but later atoned for condoning such a
misdeed by endlessly bowing and scraping with much aplomb.
More of the same came from Dame Slowly (Vivien Godfrey), who
lived up to her character’s name, keeping her pace near a standstill
throughout.
Annabel Molyneaux as statuesque Signora Stupenda and Juliet
Heslewood as the fading Fairy Godmother stole the show in terms
of singing. With her usual operatic vigour, Annabel tried valiantly
to teach her real-life husband (stepsister Bindweed) to sing. And
Juliet worked her magic, despite her dodgy wand, while cleverly
singing to the tune of ‘Send in the Clowns’ with ‘feet firmly fixed
to the ground, instead of mid-air’.
It was a delight to see talented teenagers Sam Greenhalgh and
Abigail Schultz playing the romantic young lovers Prince Earnest
and Dandelion Burdock. More romance was in the air but required
another bit of cross-dressing so that long-suffering Mr Inky
Fingers (Liz Ferris) could hook up again with heartpitter-pattering
Cookie (Barbara Bristow). However, they were fleetingly foiled by
Sir Percy Flage (Lisa Porter), who threw in more rhubarb for good
measure.
An extremely energetic Hattie the Herald (Anna Savage) kept the
audience fully informed of their responsibilities, flashing many a
sign and a matching facial expression at the critical moment. She
was joined in her youthful enthusiasm by the carol singers, Charlie
Brown, Georgina and Lydia Choyce, Eliza Findlay- Wilson, Alex
Jobling and Harry Steele. The children in the audience even joined
in the fun, leaping onto the stage and into the air in a futile attempt
to catch a huge hairy spider causing problems for Dumpling and
Beanpole (Teresa Irwin-Singer and Mary Bohm), who provided
comic relief (as if we needed any!) as the stepsisters’ hired help
and sometime Morris dancers.
The show’s finale was a colourful concoction of frilly lace,
feathers, pink sashes and hairy shoulders. The cameo appearance
by 90-year-old Chris Harrison as Buttons, including a delightful
duet with Queenie, was greeted with great acclamation.
And we must not forget the other cameo albeit very brief
appearance by a confused Dick Whittington (Jane Martin), who
mysteriously wandered into the wrong panto. All in all, a most
enjoyable performance, ably directed/produced by Pam Assiter and
Pat Scott, expertly accompanied by Sue Cave on piano, and with
superb lighting and special effects by Michael Schult2; Andy Hoad
and crew.
As sung during the finale, ‘Rhubarb for me, it’s glorious’! Barbara
Browne
FILKINS THEATRE
The AGM is on Friday 4‘h March at 8.OOpm in the Village Hall.
This is your chance to have your say on FT afffairs. All members,
friends, and would-be thespians are urged to attend. The meeting
will be followed by wine and nibbles kindly provided by Pat Scott.
SA-S
COFFEE MORNING
Everyone will be very welcome at a coffee morning in aid of
church restoration on Saturday 5‘h March 10.30am to Midday, at
Stable Cottage, Manor Farm, Broughton Poggs. Do come, but
please let me know in advance if possible (Telephone: 01367
860226)
Mary Pearce
SALE AT THE CHARITY SHOP
A big thank you to everyone who has supported the shop over the
last few months and helped to make it such a success. We hope to
open the shop again for a few weeks on Fridays (2.00-4.OOpm)
and Saturdays (10.00amMidday), and possibly other days too.
The last day of the shop will be Saturday, 19”’ March. We need to
dispose of all our stock, so take advantage of the fantastic prices on
offer and catch up with your friends over a cup of tea or coffee.
BB
PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL
The Annual General Meeting of the PCC will be held on Thursday
215‘ April at 7.30pm in the Village Hall. For more information,
telephone 01367 860195.
BC
WI NEWS
We started the year with a very enjoyable talk in January by Mr
Adrian Thornton entitled ‘National Parks - Not ours but ours to
look after’. Illustrated with slides from all the parks around the
country we learned what a National Park really is and had fun
trying to identify the different parks from the pictures.
These beautiful areas must be kept for future generations to enjoy
and our speaker was keen to pass on his knowledge. As this was an
open meeting we enjoyed the company of visitors, including a few
brave men - we hope they all enjoyed the meeting. Mr Thornton
was an excellent speaker and well worth hearing and was warmly
thanked for talking to us.
On March 16‘h we will be having our AGM, and hope all
members will be able to attend to vote in the committee for the
coming year. The new
programme for the rest of the year should be available soon so
watch this space for forthcoming events.
HW
SWINFORD MUSEUM
It is that time of year again when the Trustees of the Swinford
Museum consider the forthcoming exhibitions. The topic to be
covered next season will be Filkins during World War II. If you
have any stories or items of interest relating to this please contact
me on 01367 860504, or Ann Cripps on 01367 860209, and let us
know.
We are already learning about the exploits of the ‘pathfinder’
resident of Filkins. Where were you during the war? Please let us
know. Thank you.
Diane Blackett
HOLWELL St Mary’s
No news this month
KELMSCOTT St George’s
CHURCH BRASS AND FLOWERS Anne Stephens
WELCOME!
A belated but warm welcome to Graham and Christine who have
come to live in 4 New Houses, Kelmscott. We hope your stay will
be long and happy!
JEAN DUFTY
On February 7‘” we said farewell to Jean Dufty. Jean first moved
to Kelmscott in the late 1970’s but it was in 1987 that she bought
Church Cottage, moving in after completing alterations in 1989.
Jean became a member of St George’s PCC in 1984 and ten years
later became Churchwarden.
We have much to thank Jean for - she has been responsible for the
daily locking and unlocking of the Church, she organised the
conservation of the original Morris wall hangings by the altar, the
kneelers were her idea - Jean worked on several of them and
encouraged villagers, friends and family to do
the same. However it was the conservation of the wall paintings
that were important to Jean - she raised enough money, not only to
do the wall paintings in memory of her husband, Dick, but to also
rewire and upgrade the heating in the church. A remarkable feat!
We thank you, Jean, for your dedication to and your love of St
George’s Church and we wish you well in your new home in
Bampton.
EM
KENCOT St George’s
JUMBLE SALE
There will be a jumble Sale in aid of Kencot Village Hall Funds in
the Hall on Saturday 12‘” March at 2.OOpm. All contributions and
donations for the rummage (only good quality items please and in
a clean condition), white elephant and tombola stalls will be
gratefully received. There will be a raffle!
The Hall will be open from 2.00 to 4.00pm on Friday 11‘” March,
and from 10.00am on Saturday to receive contributions, or these
may be left with the Secretary, David Portergill at De Rougement
on Thursday or Friday morning.
GARDENS OPEN ON EASTER MONDAY
Six gardens and the allotments will be open from 2.00 to 6.OOpm
on Monday 28‘” April under The National Gardens Scheme. Could
everyone in the village who can make a cake please take it (them!)
to the Village Hall on the
morning.
Susan Portergill (Tel 01367 860217) could make use of some more
volunteers to help with teas in The Village Hall in the afternoon.
Please ring her if you have an hour to spare that afternoon. The
gate money will go as usual to Macmillan Cancer Research and
other medical charities and profits from the teas will be split
between the Village Hall and the Church.
LITTER PICKING
It is customary every Spring to go round the roadside verges in the
Parish to pick up all the litter which has accumulated over the
winter. This is best done before the grass begins to grow long.
Pickers normally work in pairs and the job takes a maximum of
two hours, at a time chosen by the pickers.
It would be nice if we had some younger pickers as the present
ones are mostly getting a bit old. Could volunteers please
telephone the Chairman on (01367 860312)?
LANGFORD
St Matthew’s
CHURCH FLOWERS
March 27‘h Easter Festival Decoration
LANGFORD LADIES
Our meeting on Thursday 10‘h March at 7.30pm in Langford
Village Hall will be an open meeting entitled “Reminiscing”. We
will be remembering Langford in times gone by. You are most
welcome to bring along old photos, memorabilia and most of all
your stories. This may be an interesting night for the newer
members of the community or older ones that may have moved
away. Raffle and refreshments available. Enquiries to Chrissy
(01367 860514) or Beryl (01367 860294).
KEEP FIT
We have a new teacher called Sue for our lively aerobics class in
Langford Village hall. The class consists of approx. 30 minutes of
Aerobic exercise followed by 30 minutes of Body Toning. Sue
already runs a class in Bradwell Village hall on Tuesday evenings
and now comes to Langford on Wednesday evenings. The class
begins at 7.OOpm and costs £3.50 per session. New members
welcome, our age range goes from the young to OAP’s - just turn
up on the night - or ring Sue on 01993 822781.
WHIST EVENINGS
The first Tuesday in each month sees the Whist evening in
Langford Village Hall beginning at 7.30pm. The entry fee of £1
includes tea/coffee and biscuits and there is a raffle, proceeds to
Langford Village hall. The atmosphere is friendly; all are welcome
to join us beginners or experts alike.
LITTLE FARINGDON
St Margaret’s
CHURCH FLOWERS
Please help with the flowers for Easter Sunday (27‘h March) in the
usual way.
ANNUAL PCM
The Annual Parochial Church Meeting will take place on
Wednesday 13‘h April, at 6.30pm at Langford House.
SHILTON Holy Rood
BURNS NIGHT
Our Burns Night Supper and auction on 22°d January was very
well attended and everyone enjoyed traditional Scottish dishes
such as Scotch Broth, Smoked Salmon, Haggis, Forfar Bridles,
Chappit Neeps and Tattles, Athol Brose, Tipsy Laird etc. etc.
Thanks to your generosity we managed to raise the magnificent
sum of £492 for the Tsunami disaster fund. Thank you all.
Rather than donating more money to the general pot we have sent
£500 to The Louise Willgrass Tsunami Fund. This fund has been
set up by the family of a mother of four who was killed in the
Tsunami and its aim is to help rebuild the area of Phuket destroyed
on 26“’ December. More details can be found on the Internet.
QUIZ NIGHT
On Saturday 5’h March, we will be holding a Quiz Night and
buffet supper in the Old School. The cost is £5 per person for
entrance to the quiz and supper (bring your own booze).
Teams of six preferred, and because of the size of the hall booking
in advance is essential. Starts 7.OOp.m. Telephone 01993 842404
or 843079 for more information.
MILITARY VEHICLE TRUST
John Coghlan, and The Military Vehicle Trust will be returning to
the field behind the Rose & Crown for four days over Easter (25‘h
to 28‘h March). WWII and post war vehicles welcome, also motor
bikes and militaria. Free stalls so come along and sell those old
military bits and pieces, jerricans etc.
Free camping (four days) and entertainment on Sunday 27‘h
March. Also, if you own a classic car, bus or lorry you will be
most welcome. Restaurant bookings essential (01993 842280). For
further details contact John Coghlan on 07801 200662.
EGGS & DUCKS!
Saturday 26‘h March: Our annual Easter event of egg rolling down
the hill
plus boat and duck races on the pond, followed by a delicious
Easter tea in the Old School.
1.30pm start at the Old School to buy the painted eggs and secure
your entries for the boat and duck races.
1.45pm a parade of Easter Bonnets
2.OOpm egg rolling and boat/duck races
Tea in the Old School -£2.00 per adult, children free
Telephone 01993 842404 or 843079 for more information.
DIARY DATES
Sunday 19‘h June Open Gardens
Saturday 16‘h July BBQ/Barn Dance - combined event
MAINTENANCE DAY
Some time between Easter and Open Gardens we would like to
organize a morning’s spring cleaning in and around the Old School
and doing a bit of maintenance - generally sprucing it up a bit.
We’ll be looking for volunteers to help out, perhaps one Sunday
morning, and providing a simple lunch for anyone who does turn
up to help. More details later.
SHILTON HISTORY GROUP
The next meeting is on Friday March 11‘h at 7.30pm in the Old
School when we welcome back a favourite speaker Martin Way.
He will talk about the world of an Agincourt Archer and life in
Medieval England. Do come and join us.
Lorna Walker
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Saturday 5‘” March
rolling and tea
Sunday 19‘” June
Saturday 16th July
Quiz Night and buffet supper Saturday 26‘h March Easter-egg
Open Gardens
BBQ and Barn Dance (combined event)
WESTWELL St Mary’s
VESTRY MEETING
The annual Easter Vestry meeting will be held on Thursday 17‘h
March 6.OOpm at 5 Mitford Cottages. At this we elect those to
hold office for the coming year. Please come if you can. There will
be opportunity to discuss
anything relevant, this is your opportunity to influence our plans
for our Church in the coming year.
Chris Fox
VILLAGE VIGNETTES
If you like the ‘village vignettes’ drawn for Parish Pump by
Patricia Broughton of Broadwell, why not commission her to do a
pen and ink sketch of your house? Contact Patricia on 0785 552
8023.
WESTMINSTER VIEW
This feature is now suspended until after the election, at which
time our new MP will be asked if he or she cares to write about
parochial affairs from a Westminster perspective. I would like to
thank David Cameron for taking the time and trouble to write his
pieces over the last few months. Ed
POTTERING IN THE POTTING SHED
‘Say it with Flowers’ as the famous advertisement has it. But say
what exactly? This month Anne Greenwood translates the the
language of flowers...
Using flowers to express feelings or to reinforce ritual and tradition
can be traced back to the Crusades and before, but what exactly are
we saying? Many bridal traditions have evolved from superstitious
beliefs, their true meanings hidden in the mists of time. They hark
back to an era when evil spirits and magic charms were believed to
rule our day-to-day existence. The bride’s bouquet comes from a
tradition that says strong smells would ward off evil spirits and
bring good fortune.
Married couples were showered with flowers, petals, rice or grains
to bestow prosperity and fertility. The groom still chooses a flower,
which also occurs in the bridal bouquet, for his buttonhole. This is
a vestige of a time when a Knight would wear his Lady’s colours
to display his love.
Orange blossom is a traditional flower at weddings. The Saracens
are said to have used it to symbolise chastity and purity. The
evergreen leaves being a symbol for everlasting love. The
returning soldiers brought both plant and custom back when they
returned to this country. Although peonies, avoided by some in
bridal bouquets, represent shame azaleas on the other hand
represent temperance.
Roses symbolise love and snowdrops are associated with hope.
However, people from different regions may attach other meanings
to the same flower. For example lilies symbolise majesty to some
but are thought unlucky by others because of their association with
death.
Ancient legends tell us the lily sprang from the milk of Hera,
mythological
Queen of Heaven. According to old English folklore, lilies
spontaneously grew on the graves of innocents who had been
wrongly executed. The lily is also mentioned in the Bible. Often
called ‘white-robed apostles of hope’, lilies were found growing in
the Garden of Gethsemane after Christ’s crucifixion. White lilies
are said to have sprung up where drops of Christ’s sweat fell to the
ground from the cross. In Greek mythology daffodils were sacred
to the dead. Daffodil is a corruption of the Greek name, asphodel,
but because of their flowering time their Christian nickname is or
Easter or Lent Lily.
The word Lent comes from the same root words as ‘to lengthen’
and refers to the hours of daylight that lengthen during the season.
Lent also falls during that period of rapid growth, which is a
characteristic of early spring. Traditionally, Easter is associated
with many flowers. Some wild flowers have strong Easter
associations. The stitchwort is known as Easter Bells, and the
Scarlet Pimpernel, is said to be spotted with Christ’s blood as he
walked to the summit. Speedwell has the country name of Christ’s
Eyes, and its botanical name (Veronica chamaedrys) links it with
St Veronica, who after wiping Christ’s face, accidentally dropped
her kerchief on a clump of blue flowers growing by the roadside.
On picking it up she found the flowers carried the impression of
Christ’s face on their petals.
This year Easter Sunday marks the start of British Summertime
with the turning forward of the clocks and a noticeable lengthening
of the day at both ends. The March winds will be giving way to the
April showers, which together offer the eventual promise of May
flowers and many sunny hours in our gardens.
Anne Greenwood
NATURE NOTES
0 n the 8th January I visited the Cotswold Water Park and you will
probably be amazed to learn, like I was, that it is Britain’s largest
water park covering over thirty square miles, 50% larger than the
Norfolk Broads and is still growing, having at present 132 lakes
created by gravel extraction. This wonderful amenity area is right
on our doorstep.
In April and May the largest population of Snakeshead Fritillaries
in Great Britain bloom in North Meadow National Nature Reserve,
at the southern boundary of the Water Park near Cricklade.
Various species of orchid can be seen in old meadows and around
restored lakes in spring and summer, among the many other wild
flowers which bloom and thrive here.
My main purpose of visit on this day was to see sinew. These come
under a group of diving ducks called ‘sawbills’ and have tooth like
cutting edges to their beaks to enable them to grip their main prey,
fish. The male is a stunning bird, largely brilliant white with a
black eye patch and a few black lines or “cracks” in its body
plumage. I was lucky enough to see two males
}.
and two less striking females. They were displaying and the
feathers on their heads were raised in a form of crest as they dived
in unison at frequent intervals. These are scarce birds to this
country but usually visit the Water Park every winter from their
breeding grounds in Iceland and Scandinavia. This is the first time
I have been lucky enough to see them.
Whereas the smew is the smallest of the “sawbills” showing, close
by was a group of the largest “sawbills”, the goosander. The male
is vivid white with a dark green head and scarlet bill. They breed in
the same area as the smew.
The third unusual duck to be seen in the same patch of water was a
group of red-crested pochard, an ornamental looking bird which
probably spread through breeding escapees from private bird
collections but occurs naturally in south and east Europe. The male
has a rusty orange “fuzzy” head, bright coral red bill and black
chest.
Back home I had a visit on a number of days from a beautiful male
bullfinch eating voraciously the remaining yellow berries on my
sorbus tree. Against the blue sky its rich pink underparts and jet
black cap really looked impressive. This is not a bird we get to see
very often now but in the orchards of Kent it was once considered
a pest, stripping newly formed flower buds from the fruit trees.
The song thrush has been singing well from its perch on the top
branches of a neighbour’s tree morning and evening for several
weeks and one day a blackbird gave a brief song.
The mild winter has led to reports of blackbird, song thrush and
robin fledglings during January. The thrushes perished, the robins
were all caught by domestic cats but the blackbirds survived.
Rooks have been carrying twigs in the last two weeks, blue tits are
prospecting nesting holes and I have seen a bumble bee buzzing
through the garden, while lady birds are active on some warm days
and I have seen two green caterpillars.
I am sure you must have seen many signs of “early spring”. Do
visit the Cotswold Water Park.
David Roberts
CARTERTON DAY CARE CENTRE
0 As we all know, the benefice has a thriving Day Care Centre in
Filkins. But there are others just outside our area. George Cole tells
us all about Carterton Day Centre. One of the aims of modern
society is to improve the likelihood of the
elderly being able to live an active life in their own homes. One
way to do this is to provide day centres, where like minded people
can meet and enjoy a chat and a hot meal in the company of others.
There is such a Day Centre in Carterton, although, because of its
somewhat out of the way location, very few seem to know of our
existence.
Id
Started in the early eighties by a few dedicated volunteers, the
centre is situated on the access road to the Edith Moorhouse and St
Joseph’s schools, off Lawton Avenue. It opens on four days each
week, Monday to Thursday and can accommodate up to 20 people
each day. The centre is a registered charity and our
accommodation, standing on land leased from the West
Oxfordshire District Council, is owned by the charity and used for
no other purpose. We have our own minibus, fitted with a hoist for
wheelchairs and those unable to cope with steps. We are able to
pick up members from their homes in Alvescot, Bampton, Black
Bourton, Broughton Poggs, Clanfield, Filkins, Kencot, Minster
Lovell and Shilton and return them there when the centre closes for
the day.
In its early days, the centre was manned entirely by volunteers, but
for some years now the centre has been partially funded by the
Social and Health Care Directorate, enabling us to employ a paid
manager, deputy manager, cook and assistant carer. All other tasks,
including driving the minibus, are carried out by unpaid
volunteers. Meals for our members are cooked on the premises, as
are meals for the day centres in Filkins and Burford. We have a
resident hairdresser, an occasional manicurist and a chiropodist
visits every six weeks. From time to time we have an instructor to
conduct ‘sitting down’ exercises for any who wish to join in.
Each day the centre is open by 9.OOam, although most of our
members arrive by minibus rather later than this. On arrival,
members are offered tea, coffee or a soft drink with biscuits and
are then able to take part in a variety of activities, as they feel
inclined. We offer, among other things, a small library, playing
cards, dominoes, jigsaws, quizzes or just a chat with other
members or one of our volunteers. The midday meal, which caters
for diabetics, is served at 12.30pm, two courses with a cup of tea or
coffee to follow. After the meal members are free to pursue any
activity they wish, with bingo available for those who like it.
Outings are arranged occasionally, to garden centres, theatres, river
cruises and the like. At the end of the year it is possible to run
Christmas shopping trips to Oxford or Swindon. There is a charge
for most of these outings, but they are heavily subsidised by the
centre.
There is a common misconception that you have to have something
wrong with you if you are to attend a day centre. Nothing could be
further from the truth. Many of our members come because they
are alone, socially isolated and in need of company from time to
time. Others come to give their caring relative a short break from
routine. There are many ways to become a member. You can be
referred to the centre by the Social and Health Care Directorate,
though this is becoming increasingly rare, by a doctor, district
nurse or by any adult who is responsible for the care of another, or
you can apply on your own behalf. We usually offer a trial run, a
day or so to see if you like the centre, before you make up your
mind to make the arrangement
a
more permanent. Most of our members attend only one day a
week, though it is possible to come more often as some do.
Would you or your relative like it? There is only one way to find
out. Visitors are welcome, or you can obtain more information by
telephoning our
manager, jenny Hedges at the day centre on 01993 840162. On the
other , hand, if you feel you would like to assist in providing these
services as a volunteer, we are always in need of help, either to
work in the centre, drive our minibus (normal driving licence only
required) or to act as escort on the minibus. The work is very
rewarding; some of our volunteers have been with the centre for
twenty years, since it first opened.
George Cole
SOBELL HOUSE BEREAVEMENT SERVICE
Why do people need support after bereavement? And bow can
Sobell House help? bereavement is something which we all
experience. We all react in different ways and whereas many
people have relatives, friends or
neighbours who support them, others either have no one to turn to
or find it difficult to talk to those they know well for fear of
distressing them.
The bereavement service was set up in 1984, and it is funded
through ORH Charitable Funds. The staff includes two qualified
Counsellors and two administrative staff. Between 20-25
volunteers provide bereavement support to those whose relative
died in Sobell House or in the care of the Community Macmillan
Team or the Palliative Care Support Teams. We are seeking new
volunteers to join us who are warm, friendly people, who are not
afraid of expressions of distress and grief such as tears, deep
sadness and anger.
What is it like to work as a Bereavement Volunteer for Sobell
House? I can do no better than quote some of our volunteers:
‘The satisfaction and privilege of being there for someone at such
an j important time in their life.’
‘The independence of working one-to-one with people but with the
safety net of the team and the support of the supervisors.’ ‘The
constant reminder that life is very precious and not to be wasted.’
‘The personal growth through training and becoming more
experienced.’ ‘The surprise and humbling effect of having
assumptions about other people challenged.’
‘The excitement felt on seeing growth come from grief.’
What training is offered?
The Bereavement Service Training is provides over 60 hours of preparation.
The training programme includes: Developing the skills needed to support bereaved people such as listening, ‘
.
responding, relationship building and basic counselling skills.
Developing understanding of bereavement. Reflecting on personal
experience of loss.
If you are interested in finding out more about joining the
bereavement service then we would like to hear from you. Please
contact Jane Elliott or Di Rivers on Oxford 225878 or email us:
SMSH.BereavementService@orh.nhs.uk
JE
COOKING WITH KATE
In wet and windy Marcb, Kate invites us into the kitchen for some
good old fashioned comfort food...
T his is a very adaptable recipe from the USA. The Meat loaf can
be served with gravy, mashed potato and vegetables or with a spicy
tomato sauce which is how I like it.
MEAT LOAF Serves 4 - 6
2lbs (900g) lean mince beef ½ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper 2 eggs
4 tbsp fresh bread crumbs
4 fluid oz (120 ml) tomato juice 1 small onion, grated 1 tsp
chopped parsley ltsp mixed dried herbs 6 slices streaky bacon
Pre heat oven to 375F (190C) or Gas mark 5. Grease a 21b loaf tin,
place meat in bowl and work in gently with a fork, blend in all the
ingredients except the bacon mixing lightly so the meat loaf will
not become dense and tough.
Line the loaf tin with streaky bacon leaving the ends hanging free
place meat mixture firmly into loaf pan , cover with strips of
bacon.
Bake for 1 hour until] the loaf shrinks from the side of the tin.
As a variation 2 hard boiled eggs can be put in the middle of the
loaf or for children two Frankfurters
SPICY TOMATO SAUCE
Take two 400gm tins of chopped tomatoes (I use juice from these
for the tomato juice in the meat loaf), one clove of garlic, one finly
chopped Onion. Gently fry the onion and crushed garlic until
golden, add tomatoes to saucepan, and simmer until flavours are
amalgamated.
You can add all sorts of condiments, eg Worcester sauce, tabasco,
herbs, spices to provide the flavour you like.
The meat loaf can be eaten cold with pickle, or in a sandwich. Kate
Morley
WODC & OUR RUBBISH
WASTE COLLECTION
Unable to put waste by the kerbside due to infirmity or disability?
If you telephone 01993 861020 you will be able to arrange
collection from convenient place. Just leave your name and address
and details of the location.
GARDEN WASTE
WODC will collect 4-12 bags of garden waste free of charge and
take them for composting. This has to be booked on 01993
861020: leave your name, address, daytime telephone number, and
the number of sacks to be collected
TOO BIG FOR THE BIN?
There is also a service for collecting bulky household items and
unwanted vehicles. There is a charge for this service.
SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF IT SO FAR?
South East England is an attractive place to live and work, but if
we want it to stay that way we need to plan now to make sure our
children and grandchildren can enjoy a good quality of life.
The South East England Regional Assembly has produced a draft
document called the South East Plan - it includes important choices
about development in our region to 2026. The Assembly is looking
for public opinion on these choices from 24‘h January to 15‘h
April 2005.
During this period a questionnaire is being sent to every household
in the region, so watch out for a leaflet giving you a chance to have
‘Your Shout’ soon. Your council will also be interested in your
views and may be holding public events on the plan that you can
attend.
Over the next 20 years, the region’s population could grow by
900,000 increasing the demand for homes and jobs. Two thirds of
this need for homes is expected to come from people already in the
South East, rather than people moving from elsewhere. We need to
plan ahead to balance the need for good jobs and successful
businesses with the need to maintain a high quality environment.
We must also ensure that new development goes hand in hand with
infrastructure and services.
What’s the Plan about?
The key areas the Regional Assembly is seeking views on are jobs,
homes,
where to build, the countryside, essential services (eg hospitals,
transport and schools), sharing success across the whole region,
water, education and health.
With such a large region and so many topics there are going to be
differing views, which is why it is important that people complete
and return their questionnaire.
We need to reach the right balance for the region. If we have jobs
without homes businesses may suffer from lack of staff. Building
too few homes could lead to higher house prices and homelessness.
However building more homes in areas without jobs may mean
unemployment. More development also uses up valuable land and
can also add to congestion and our environmental impact.
What else does the Plan cover?
For three important subjects - transport, waste and energy - the
Regional Assembly has already agreed plans to 2016 with
Government following earlier consultation.
For more information see: southeast-ra.gov.uk/southeastplan, or
phone our 24-hour information line on telephone 01483 555 208.
Many of us might think these regional quangos are an utterly
ghastly way of even further emasculating local government. In the
South East, for instance, many of the decisions affecting our local
towns and villages in West Oxfordshire are now made in
Guilford.! I urge everyone to give the South East Regional
Assembly the benefit of your views. Filkins residents (and others)
can get a questionnaire from Filkins Post Office and Cotswold
Woollen Weavers. Ed
LETTERS
We welcome letters on any subject, so do pick up your pens, and
let the world (well, this benefice anyway) hear your views about
Parish Pump, or anything else. Letters may be edited for reasons of
space.
Sir: The newly formed Carterton Community Cinema will
celebrate its launch with a showing of its first film on Wednesday
16‘h March at Carterton Football Club. We are showing Cold
Mountain (15), starting at 7.30pm, and finishing around 9.45pm.
Tickets £3.50. There will be a welcome free drink and a bar for
interval drinks.
For a£5 donation you can become a ‘Friend of the Cinema’ and
enjoy certain discounts. We will be inviting audience participation
in choosing future films. More information from the Town Hall,
Tel: 01993 842156.
Malcolm Farley
There are also regular film screenings in Filkins Village Hall on
the second Tuesday of every month. The next is on 8‘h March at
7.30pm, when De-lovely’ (all about Cole Porter) will be shown.
Tickets £2.50 on the door. Ed
In a letter to Mike Clark, our erstwhile vicar Bill Glazebrook asked
to be remembered to us all.•
“... Diana and I still miss Filkins and associated villages. We get
sent Parish Pump and so know more or less what is going on. We
wish we could still be part of it.
I can honestly say that the happiest years of my life were spent in
Filkins, though I know a lot has changed over the last ten or eleven
years. But the ethos seems not to have changed.”
Bill goes on to say, referring both to Mike Clark’s recent Parish
Pump article about ‘Football in the Bible; and the absurd DaVinci
Code
“You have given me a new insight into the game of Football.
Could the Palestinian Cup, lost after the Baylonian captivity, be
what we now know as The Holy Grail about which there is
currently so much speculation? If so, and according to current
mythology, it may be found in the local chapel not so many miles
from here.”
Bill is talking of course, about Rosslyn Chapel not far from the
Glazebrooks’ home in Perth. So anyone on the trail of the Holy
Grail could combine the trip with a visit to Bill and Diana! I know
Bill reads Parish Pump every month, so here’s a warning Bill- I
will be ringing you to find out more about how you and Diana are
faring for a future Parish Pump article. You have been warned! Ed
PUMP PRIZE CROSSWORD
Camel Pong and his driver (Patrick Coleman) have swanned off to
Australia, so there will be no crossword for a month or two.
Apologies to all cruciverbalists: but at least you can not take the
hump, since the camel has, of course, taken it with him.
In the meanwhile, here is the solution to February’s puzzle:
Across: 1 Reputed 8 Another 9 Tsunami 10 Nothing 11 Sedan 13
Skywalker 15 Mussolini 18 Cabal 21 Relates 22 Triplet 23
Immerse 24 Panders Down: 1 Rites 2 (see 14) 3 Trainspotters 4
Dainty 5 Contradiction 6 Shrink 7 Kruger 12 Esau 14,2 Ezra
Pound 15 Martin 16 Salome 17 Instep 19 Belle 20 Lotus
Winner: David Portergill, Kencot. David, your prize awaits you at
Cotswold Woollen Weavers, Filkins!
On the subject of winners, there was a competition on the back of
the After Cinders’ pantomime programme. The answer was: Queen
Tarara, and the winner is... Mark Ashforth-Smith. A small prize
awaits at CWW.~
Tailpiece: ‘If God had meant me to touch my toes, he would have
put chocolate on the floor!’ Jenny Symes
THE BIG BLOW - PART ONE
Readers in the Broadshires, and in particular Filkins and
Broughton Poggs, will remember the night of what immediately
became known as ‘The Filkins T’onado’. Now, one year on, seems
a good time to revisit the dramatic events of that evening in March
2004.
For us it was an evening of huge hailstones, violent wind, and quite
alarming damage. But for those fascinated by the science of
weather, our parochial Big Blow very quickly became famous far
beyond our parish as a possible ‘Supercell’ storm.
What is a Supercell I hear you cry. A simple definition (I think.) is
a thunderstorm with a deep persistent rotating updraft
(mesocyclone). This rotation of the storm is the major difference
between supercells and multicell storms. The important point is
that supercells are rare, and to identify one is a prime goal of that
esoteric breed.• the stormchaser.
Here is the story of that March day from storm-chasers Brendan
Jones and Laura Gilchrist. The cocktail of sober Science (you will
need a dictionary.) and Hammond Innes-style battling the elements
is an intoxicating one! Their story is also interesting because it sets
our ‘local disturbance’ in a national setting, and also provides
some entertaining outsiders’ comments about us.
INTRODUCTION
0 n 21s‘ March 2004, a very unstable north-westerly airflow
encompassed much of the UK, bringing widespread heavy
showers. Many of these produced marked falls of hail, and several
developed into thunderstorms. The conditions responsible for
producing this convective outbreak were well-forecast in advance,
so we made the decision to spend a day chasing across southern
England. Having studied the forecast situation, we decided that the
south-west Midlands and central southern England was the place to
be - and we weren’t disappointed!
During the evening, as we reached the Gloucestershire/West
Oxfordshire border, a rapidly intensifying cell produced a violent
thunderstorm with sizeable hail and very interesting characteristics.
The storm resembled a weak supercell in nature, although we
didn’t want to jump to any conclusions.
This account offers a personal log of the climax to our day’s storm
chasing, and aims to put forward theories as to why this storm was
unique. We are not offering sound scientific proof as to why we
consider this storm to be supercellular; they are only theories and
observations.
Low pressure to the north of the UK gave a strong polar maritime
flow across the UK. Advecting within this flow were several small
upper cold pools, and associated trough disturbances. Many
topographical and orographical effects also combined to produce
areas of convergence, in particular the Cheshire Gap which,
together with extended sea-track moisture intake, permitted large
cell development across the Midlands. In addition to the flow
characteristics,
the late March sunshine promoted convective infill across the
country, with individual cell growth during the mid-afternoon
period. Countrywide, temperatures ranged from between 7-11’C
(45-52’F), with low dewpoints of between 14’C (34-39°F) away
from any showery activity.
As mentioned earlier, surface temperatures were around 9°C
(48’F), with dewpoints no higher than 4°C (39°F) away from
rainfall. Midday levels of Convective Available Potential Energy
(CAPE) ranged from between 350450J/kg across England, with
around 170 J/kg of this in the lowest 3km of the atmosphere across
southern parts of England. Tropopause heights were observed to be
around 7000m, with freezing levels oscillating about 9001000m.
Levels of shear through the depth of the troposphere were not
anomolously high; however degrees of low-level shear (in the
lowest lkm) were quite significant. At surface level, mean wind
speeds ranged from 0-20 knots across southern England, but
ascents showed wind speeds of almost 40 knots at levels as low as
500-800m. Wind speeds increased linearly, from 40 to 100 knots,
from this point up to 10km, across southern England. One final
measure of the likelihood of thunderstorm development is the level
of helicity, which although not huge through the troposphere as a
whole, is significantly high in the lowest kilometre or so.
The conditions are not indicative of severe thunderstorm
development, although regional variations and local influence must
be considered for cells elsewhere across the UK. Simplistically,
supercells require many specific ingredients with which to form,
including strong vertical wind shear and very high values of CAPE
(and, in turn, updraft strength). Neither of these was present in the
atmosphere during 21st March.
However, in an ever-researched area of science, mini-supercells
may well be more common than originally thought. That is, at
least, the idea we are subscribing to. The term ‘shallow supercell’
is also known in the USA as a ‘mini-supercell’, which is an
accepted term used to describe smaller-scale versions of the large
storms which roam the Great Plains during each spring. At a very
basic level, the degree of supercell formation is a balance between
the updraft strength and the level of shear. For a very strong severe
supercell, very high levels of shear combined with explosive
updrafts produce the tornadic monsters seen across the Plains.
However, considering this notion of updraft strength versus
vertical windshear, why can not reduced levels of both shear and
updraft strength result in supercells which are weaker, but
nevertheless are supercells? If this is the case, then the UK may
well have more supercells per year than many would expect.
THE CHASE
Now that the scientific overview is out of the way, it’s on to the
real reason we all strive hard to understand storms - the simple
love of witnessing them! We spent much of the afternoon
witnessing many cumulonimbus developments, the majority of
which produced moderate showers, some with hail. Our initial
trip took us from London westbound, along the M4.
Near the M4/A34 junction at Newbury we drove through a quite
lively cell, which produced some very heavy rain for a short time,
and also some small hail. Other showers provided very stunning
photographic opportunities, such as this narrow but extremely high
anvil above Oxford at around 2pm (this image is taken from the
Ridgeway).
By 1700 GMT we had followed the storm to Taynton, just North
of Burford. This photograph was taken looking directly west, into
the core of the storm. Note the radiating anvil streaming towards us
from the main storm centre. At this point, sharp static was being
heard over the AM band of the car radio, and deep grumbles were
being heard directly above us (anvil lightning?).
It was at this point that the storm began to reach our location, close
to Burford, and we could see a solid core of hail approaching from
the west through a west-east orientated valley. By 1715 GMT, the
main core of the storm had exploded into life. Whilst the cell was
moving eastwards, we travelled southwards in an attempt to get in
front of the downdraft core. We were caught up in traffic in
Burford just as the main downdraft began to arrive. Preceded by
sleet, a spell of heavy snow began to fall.
1721 GMT - By now just South of Burford, and precipitation
consisted of torrential rain and snowflakes. However we were
aiming for the brighter skies on the SE side of the main downdraft.
1725 GMT - Arrived 3 miles south of Burford, just East of the
A361, near the southern edge of the main downdraft as it moved
eastwards. In no time at all, hail began falling onto our position.
This photograph was taken at 1729 GMT and show
that the hail was between 7 and 13111111 (0.3 and 0.5 inches) at
this time.
Now would be an appropriate time to discuss the structure of the
storm cell, in order to appreciate further images and discussion of
this storm.
This is a schematic plan-view diagram to roughly simulate what
we observed within this individual storm.
As discussed earlier, a forward-spreading anvil was observed
travelling eastwards from the main core of the storm. The main
downdraft of the storm was very evident. Once we punched the
core and travelled through to the south side of the main downdraft
region, we were presented with a view of an impressive flanking
line further to the south, running roughly WSW to ENE. To the far
west the flanking-line convection was shallow, becoming
progressively deeper as it approached our position. The main rainfree base of a single large updraft was just to our south-east and
east, and a clear overshooting top could be seen. Although the sun
was low in the sky, thus allowing sunlight to filter to our location,
the sky directly above us and to the west was filled with a backsheared anvil.
While we were in the middle of the storm South of Burford, Sam
Jowett was viewing it one mile due east of Towcester,
Northamptonshire, approximately between 1700 and 1730 GMT.
His location was over 40 miles north-east of the cell, which shows
just how massive this storm was. It is clear from Sam’s
photographs that this storm was indeed comprised of one single
cell (comprising of an updraft and a downdraft region). In the UK
it is rare for single cell storms to be so persistent and so large
without being part of a multicell structure. It is at this point that
one has to consider the possibility that this storm may well have
been a supercell.
However, this is far from the end of the story regarding our rendezvous with this stunning thunderstorm. Back at ground level, we
were becoming simply overwhelmed with what this storm wanted
to show us. As the sun began to
filter into our location, we were on the south-westerly point of the
main downdraft region. At around 1735 GMT we had a clear view
of the massive shafts of hail hammering out of the westerly region
of the downdraft, as clear skies began to show behind it to the
north. Powerful CGs pierced down within 700-800m of our
location, close enough for the shockwave to be distinguised from
the soundwave. Two lightning bolts in particular, literally shook
our insides as they nailed fields less than a kilometre away.
By 1735 GMT, hail had almost stopped falling on our location, so
we were under the impression that the downdraft’s influence had
left us. This was indeed the case, although we weren’t prepared for
the updraft to display to us one last spectacle. Directly above us at
this point the only cloud left was the high, back-sheared anvil.
However, in a mechanism common to the forward anvil, strong
updrafts can throw large hail up into the anvil, dropping them
sporadically vast distances away from the main downdraft.
We believe this is a similar mechanism to that which next affected
us, but with the hail thrown out into the back-sheared anvil instead.
For a period of about two minutes, hail fell heavily from a
seemingly precipitation-free sky. These stones were much larger
than those which had already moved away; some reached between
20 and 25mm in diameter (nearly one inch, about the size of a 20p
piece).
For a brief period, as the large hail began to fall, the flanking line
to our south-west blocked out the sunlight allowing it to turn
alarmingly dark. In this image, the hail is seen falling despite the
main downdraft being far in the distant east. As the scene remained
superbly dark, the large hail began to cover the small lane that we
had chosen as our vantage point.
Despite the plummeting temperatures and battering from icy
marbles, we still managed to muster a smile. In fact, we were both
thrilled with what we’d just seen; the only downside was that it
was over and we had no way over keeping up with the fast-moving
storm!
STORM ANALYSIS - WAS THIS A SUPERCELL?
From the research we have since conducted into this system, our
honest answer is ‘yes’! However, there will be vast scepticism
about this verdict, particularly as the atmospheric conditions were
not alarmingly in favour of such development.
However, we would like to put forward some summarising points
as to why we believe this was the case. The atmospheric conditions
were not perfect, but did have interesting characteristics. Helicity,
shear and CAPE were all quite capable of sustaining supercell
development, provided other factors were met. There is a wealth of
research conducted in the USA into “mini-supercells”, and in many
instances even tornadic supercells have formed in atmospheric
conditions similar to those seen across the UK on March 20th
2004.
So, based on this, could this have been a supercell? Possibly, but
unlikely!
However, if one were to suggest the atmosphere could not have
sustained a supercell, given the ascent data, there is little or no
chance of large hail production becoming a reality in any single or
multicell storms. Indeed, widespread thunderstorms occurred
across Cheshire during the afternoon, but these multicell storms
rapidly grew and died, and could not sustain hail larger than 58mm in diameter. The cell we encountered was without doubt a
singlecell entity. Therefore, we put forward the notion that a
single-cell classic thunderstorm in such unfavourable conditions,
could not have maintained a long duration (over four hours) nor
produced such large hail. Supercell processes must have occurred.
Unfortunately, Because the Burford cell was a High Precipitation
(HP) thunderstorm, very little structure could be seen through the
curtains of rain and hail. A rotating mesocylone could not be
visibly confirmed.
Could there have been local influences which allowed this storm to become a
, local
supercell? The storm really intensified to maturity as it moved over the Cotswolds, and
thus the topographic uplift and flow disturbance may have played a part. Also, the
location of this area relative to the Bristol Channel may also have been important. The
westerly wind may have been funnelled
into a more south-westerly flow as it moved up the channel. When this
‘
narrow zone of south-westerly winds exited the Bristol Channel canyon, they
‘
would have collided with the westerly winds crossing South Wales. This may have
caused local convergence in the region in which the storm became severe.
One startling characteristic of this cell was its eastward velocity,
which made
the storm impossible to chase. The single cell travelled across the
country at between 45 and 48 knots from birth to death. Although
the top of the storm . travelled at comparable velocity to the
upper level winds, the base of the storm would have been
travelling substantially quicker than the surface winds. Indeed, the
surface westerly winds were around 20 knots at most, suggesting
that the storm was travelling some 25 knots faster. The result of
this would be increased inflow to the front (east) of the storm, with
this inflow reaching a speed of 20 knots westward relative to the
storm’s movement.
Effectively, the inflow at the front of the cell would be the result of
the cell
itself literally piling into the air infront of it, and consuming it!
This interesting factor may well have aided the setting up of
rotation within the
cell, effectively creating a counter-balance between the westerly winds behind
;
the cell, south-westerly winds affecting the southern side of the cell, and now
. the
relative easterly winds ahead of the cell. It may well be that the speed of the storm
therefore played a large part in allowing it to become severe, even super-cellular.
So, based on this, could it have been a supercell? The evidence
suggests, yes! However, to move towards a definite conclusion we
needed to find more evidence.
THE FILKINS TORNADO
We had watched the storm from about 3 miles south of Burford, as
previously explained. Just over a mile south of our location is the
small, sleepy village of Filkins. The small settlement is a
traditional Cotswold village; small Cotswold stone cottages always
looking immaculate, the small village nursery looking out onto a
small green, with an orchard nearby.
At the bottom end of the village, the Manor house commands
ground comprising towering poplar trees, like sentinals watching
over the area. In the centre of the village a small local pub,
fashioned out of Cotswold stone, welcomes residents and visitors
alike, with walls covered with pictures of the village from days
gone by. A Post Office, church and war memorial lead to the top
end of the village, where most of its small population live. The
scene is quiet, tranquil, and the pace of life seems slow and
relaxed.
At around 1725 GMT on Sunday March 21s‘ 2004, that peaceful
existence was shattered by Mother Nature, cruelly singling out the
small settlement for one of her most unforgiving acts - the tornado.
The following accounts are based on notes taken when talking
directly to residents of Filkins and Broadwell, on Thursday 25”
March 2004.
The sky was very dark to the north, almost ink black. I took one
look at it and thought nothing of it. My wife was in the bath at the
time, and my two young children were busy watching their
favourite TV show. The local area news was about to start, so I
prepared to relax infront of the 7V for half an hour. At that point, I
heard a knocking on the window, which quickly became a
peppering, as if someone was throwing gravel and small stones at
the back windows. I quickly ran over the see what all the
commotion was about and to my amazement, it was hailstones.
This hail was like nothing I’ve seen before, some were the size of
10 pence pieces. They were bouncing up off the grass, and making
a real noise on the roof At that point, my wife came out of the
bathroom to ask what on earth was happening, and as I informed
her it was only hail and huge peal of thunder roared out through
the house...
Meanwhile, next door:
I was sitting in the living room, and my wife was in the kitchen.
There was very loud thunder outside, and once it had stopped
snowing there were some very large hailstones indeed. I decided to
bring our two dogs in, as I didn’t think they deserved to be out in
such terrible conditions. Just after I came back in, it began to get
very windy again. Saturday had seen gales across the area, and I
couldn’t get out and about in it. Sunday had been a nice day up
until now, and once again that darn wind got up again. It’s beyond
a joke this wind, I told my wife, plain silly!
At this point, the wind suddenly became stronger than I’ve ever
seen it. Hailstones were trying their best to come through the patio
doors, and I could hardly see out. Then the wind grew even
stronger, so strong that my wife had to shout to be heard from the
kitchen. On asking her for a second time, she came into the living
room and told me
that the dog kennel had just flown past the kitchen window,
crashed into the apple tree in the front garden, then took off again
over the wall and down the road...
Back in the first house:
The wind was unbelievable. There was crashing around outside,
banging all manner of hell letting loose! My kids tried to go out
and see, but I ran over and quickly shut the door they had tried to
open. The trouble is, I could hardly shut it again! I pushed with all
my strength, and just managed to get the thing shut such was the
strength of the wind. Once it all died down, the sun quickly came
out and the wind had almost stopped entirely. I decided to venture
outside, sliding along on top of the enormous hailstones that had
fallen. I stopped dead in my tracks though... where the hell had the
kids’ wendy house gone? Someone’s stolen it! I cried out to my
wife. Who would steal it? It was a large, solid wooden wendy
house, and it would take more than two fully grown men to even
nudge the thing.
Just as my wife came outside, I happened to glance into next
door’s garden... and there it was! The wendy house was on its side,
in next door’s garden, against a tree! How had it got over the 3ft
stone wall and landed over there, totally intact? I was about to go
around to find out, when I suddenly realised I was walking on roof
slates. I looked up, and to my horror the southern side of my house
had no roofing tiles left! The garden was covered in them! Some
were lying flat, others had been drilled upright into the ground like
knives through butter! As I walked into the front garden, I
suddenly noticed that was covered in roof slates too, and so was
the road outside, and so was the grass verge and hedge on the other
side of the road. Hell even the field beyond that was full of our
roof tiles!
and next door:
We rushed out to see what on earth had happened! We looked out
into the road, to find the remains of our wood and iron dog kennel
lying smashed in the road. Just yards from it, a motorist sat in his
car, engine still running his face was as white as snow. Just beside
his car, was a tree lying in the road. I had a passing glance at next
door’s property - they had a large wooden garage, and that was
gone, flattened! We even found the roof of our dog kennel 200
yards away across the fields!”
Up to now we had seen many good reasons why this storm could
be classified as a supercell: large hail, single persistent updraft and
downdraft, huge cloud structure, tell-tale hook echo radar
signature. Now however, we’re faced with the prospect that this
storm produced a damaging tornado less than a mile from where
we had watched the storm, and mere minutes before we arrived.
The evidence for supercell activity, it would seem, is growing
stronger.
However, after a spectacular yet sobering day wandering around
these villages, talking to the residents, surveying the damage, and
working out the exact mechanics of the tornado, we feel this event
needs a whole analysis of its own.
The Big Blow - Part Two in the next issue of Parish Pump: The
trail of destruction across Filkins and the Broadshire villages, was
it a tornado and was it a supercell?