At a time when so many country crafts are in decline, it is wonderful to see the enthusiasm, the industry, the expertise and injection of countless hours of work that have been all so freely given to the Art of Lace Making here at Woodcutts. Indeed this elegant and ancient art has really blossomed here, this summer. For those of you who know Woodcutts and its inhabitants, the question you will be asking yourselves, is who on earth can it be, that is practising this noble pastime? It is appreciated, that in this multifaceted, thriving, international, jet-setting community, there are many possible choices that can be made as to the probable participant(s). Is it Mrs. So and So, who has lived here forever, or is it young Xxxxx, who is a recent import?
Well I have to tell you, the answer is neither. The artistes are extremely young and their work output enormous, despite their immaturity. Their designs are by no means traditional, nor do they work in the usual silks and cottons. The truth is that they work in a very modern way, using genuine, organic materials. They can be said to be truly green and also black, yellow and hairy. They have multi-segmented bodies, protruding eyes and hairs everywhere.
Yes you have guessed it, they are the caterpillars of the cabbage white butterfly; the materials that they have been working on are my Brassica plants. Unlike those of the silk moths, the finished product of their "fine work" is not so much sought after. Although anyone who would like to purchase a lacy, cabbage leaf, may do so at a very reasonable price. (No canvassers please.) Whatever that means, I am not at all sure, but I have seen it in other adverts. Orders may be placed on the internet, that is if you can find out the e-mail address. I'm afraid I can't be of help there, I know I've got one but I'm not sure what it is.
Even if we can't harvest cabbages, we can harvest the fruits of the hedgerows. They are wonderful this year, aren't they? Firstly back in May, the elder flowers produced some of the best cordial ever, and then this month we have a bumper crop of lush elder berries, some eight pounds of them finding their way into demi-johns in the kitchen, at the beginning of this year's wine making. They were closely followed by some of this year's, bumper crop of blackberries. Meg (Madge) and I picked nine pounds during a two-hour, leisurely walk, last Sunday afternoon. They have already displayed great potential by frothing over the top of their containers, in the initial wine making process. Now there are hips and haws to be harvested, before the dry weather comes to an end, and there is no shortage of those either. Other berries, which appear to be present in prolific numbers are spindle (these are still to turn from green grey to pink as yet), and ivy, which are still at the flowering stage and providing great amounts of nectar and pollen, for numerous insects. These include all sorts of bees and butterflies, which are still on the wing at the middle of September. Of the butterflies, the good old cabbage white is the most numerous, followed by the red admiral. Also seen in the last few days are one brimstone, one painted lady,one comma and a very lonely looking humming bird hawk moth. I must not forget to mention the large green and blue, Wellington Bomber type, dragon flies, which are still with us and have been in considerable numbers all summer.
Of all the insects this year, the cabbage white has been the most dominant, with it's caterpillars having three pairs of arms, it is no wonder it has had such a wonderful lace making year. I have used computer technology to keep birds off the cabbages, (hanging the CDs, supplied by all the internet companies, from canes has been very effective); however butterflies don't seem at least worried by them.
Even if the cabbage crop has had problems, the potatoes haven't. It is the first year without blight for some time; this has been due to the hot, dry weather; blight requires hot weather with a high humidity. They have cropped extremely well, at least all the varieties that I have grown did. As a first early, I grew a new organic variety called Junior, which were ready about the 10th of June, yielding well, cooking easily and with a particularly good flavour. I would recommend these to any grower on chalk soils. Also grown as a back up early, was Maris Bard, a safe bet. Of the main crops I have grown Romano, Pink Fir Apple, (these are low yielding but taste like earlies the whole year round) and Golden Wonder, a variety that fetches a premium of up to 33% on the market price in Ireland, because of their superior taste and texture.
Although the potatoes have not suffered from disease, they have suffered from the attention of the slugs. Using beer traps has been the obvious answer, as I have tried not to use chemical deterrents. If I told people, whom I knew in my twenties, that I had emptied a six-pack, without drinking any, they would have looked at me in disbelief. So much for age. I must admit it was only the supermarket's own economy brand, but even so it was quite a wrench.
The thought of drinking has reminded me of the humming bird hawk moths which many of us have seen imbibing nectar from the glorious show of flowers this year. To see them hovering while drinking, then flying in reverse to move away is a wonderful sight. Hopefully they will become a regular feature of our future summers. This is just another benefit of global warming.
With drinking still on my mind and to let the computer cool down, I have just taken a brief, coffee-break, hopefully it hasn't delayed you.
So back to where we left off, global warming! I don't see or hear many people complaining about the temperatures. 6 to 8 degrees Celsius above the norm. It has been a wonderful year for most people, but the one big exception must be the stock farmers relying on grass to feed their animals. They are already feeding what should be winter rations, with no likelihood of any late hay or silage. A great blow, especially for the dairy farmers, already up against it because of very low milk prices. (Mainly due to the all powerful supermarkets.) The failure of a large dairy processing plant owned by farmers here in the South, has emphasised the problem even more. So as you enjoy the back end of a wonderful summer, please say a prayer for those less fortunate.
This world is here for all of us to delight in; not just the fortunate few. Why can't we all forget materialism and take pleasure in all God's gifts around us. Is it too much to ask? Just look at the roadside plants as you travel about, slow down especially in places of speed limits, enjoy the wonderfully coloured, bright yellow, toadflax, which is more abundant this year than ever before. You say you haven't noticed it! Shame on you, open your eyes to the real world, the natural, God given world. May God bless you all, thank for reading to the end.
At a recent Parish Council meeting, I was asked the question: "What is Agenda 21?". At the time I could only explain where it originated from but could not give any substantial detail about it. With the help of the Internet I now have a detailed document on Agenda 21, and I thought it would be useful to remind readers how it arose and what it is trying to achieve.
It all started when the General Assembly called for the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. This meeting finally took place in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 where leaders of the world’s nations came together to agree on an action plan to cover environment and development issues for the 21st century. The final conclusions of what became known as the "Rio Earth Summit" were drawn up in a 40-chapter document called "Agenda 21", which incorporated all the principles contained in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. The first chapter of the document defines the basis on how the action plan was constructed and included the following paragraphs:-
"Humanity stands at a defining moment in history. We are confronted with a perpetuation of disparities between and within nations, a worsening of poverty, hunger, ill health and illiteracy, and the continuing deterioration of the ecosystems on which we depend for our well-being. However, integration of environment and development concerns and greater attention to them will lead to the fulfilment of basic needs, improved living standards for all, better protected and managed ecosystems and a safer, more prosperous future. No nation can achieve this on its own; but together we can - in a global partnership for sustainable development.
"Agenda 21 addresses the pressing problems of today and also aims at preparing the world for the challenges of the next century. It reflects a global consensus and political commitment at the highest level on development and environment co-operation. Its successful implementation is first and foremost the responsibility of Governments. National strategies, plans, policies and processes are crucial in achieving this. International co-operation should support and supplement such national efforts. In this context, the United Nations system has a key role to play. Other international, regional and subregional organisations are also called upon to contribute to this effort. The broadest public participation and the active involvement of the non-governmental organisations and other groups should also be encouraged.
"The developmental and environmental objectives of Agenda 21 will require a substantial flow of new and additional financial resources to developing countries, in order to cover the incremental costs for the actions they have to undertake to deal with global environmental problems and to accelerate sustainable development. Financial resources are also required for strengthening the capacity of international institutions for the implementation of Agenda 21……
"In the implementation of the relevant programme areas identified in Agenda 21, special attention should be given to the particular circumstances facing the economies in transition. It must also be recognised that these countries are facing unprecedented challenges in transforming their economies, in some cases in the midst of considerable social and political tension.
"The programme areas that constitute Agenda 21 are described in terms of the basis for action, objectives, activities and means of implementation. Agenda 21 is a dynamic programme. It will be carried out by the various actors according to the different situations, capacities and priorities of countries……. It could evolve over time in the light of changing needs and circumstances. This process marks the beginning of a new global partnership for sustainable development."
So, what in simple terms is "sustainable development"? Well, the standard of living for future generations is being threatened by our present unsustainable lifestyles. The global environmental problems are now well known: our ever-increasing consumption of rapidly-diminishing fossil fuels, the effects of climate change, relentless deforestation, continuing damage to the ozone layer, pollution of the oceans are all causing great concern. The UK Government’s strategy refers to sustainable development as the idea of "ensuring a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come".
The need for development is as great as ever, but future development cannot follow the model of the past. This is true for the world as a whole, and for every community in this country. In days gone by, economic activity tended to mean more pollution and a wasteful use of resources. We therefore have to find a new way forward, a way to achieve the economic, social and environmental objectives at the same time and consider the long term implications of the decisions we make. At both the global and local level we need thriving cities, towns and villages based on strong economies, good access to services and attractive and safe surroundings.
These aims, set out at the Rio Summit, are still the ultimate challenge for the countries of the world. Some have already accepted the concept of sustainable development and many positive initiatives have been pursued. But 11 years on, as division amongst nations fills the news each day, I wonder whether the rest have the wisdom to accept the stark realities and fully embrace the ideals of Agenda 21 before time runs out.
In an article on Pentridge in ‘The Downsman’, a couple of years back, some space was given to St Rumbold, patron saint of Pentridge Church. The Oxford Dictionary of Saints was quoted at length about a St Rumbold (Rumwold, Rumbauld, or whatever), issue of a liaison between the royal families of Northumberland and Mercia, a baby who died at three days old. According to what ever this book describes as ‘this quite incredible legend’, having been born at Sutton in Northamptonshire, this infant prodigy was able to ask for Baptism and Holy Communion, then preached a sermon on the Holy Trinity, citing Scripture and the Athanarian Creed, after which he gave instructions regarding his burial and finally died.
The Oxford Dictionary goes on to record that churches dedicated to him are to be found in Northamptonshire (not so surprisingly); but also in Kent, Essex, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and Dorset, so on this evidence the ‘Downsman’ article concludes that it is likely that the church at Pentridge was one of these. However this is to ignore the fact that the Oxford Dictionary, having given the information about dedications, in what for a supposedly scholarly work turns out to be a rather casual fashion, finally has to concede, ‘Some of these may be to Rumbold of Mecklin’!
I would certainly prefer to think that St Rumbold’s Church, Pentridge is dedicated to and under the patronage of St Rumbold of Mecklin (or Malines) in Belgium, who indeed is remembered and revered as the ‘Apostle of Belgium’. St Rumbold of Northamptonshire seems a rather useless saint to have as your patron since the extraordinary feats for which he is reputed to have been responsible aren’t exactly the kind of thing from which any ordinary Christian could take inspiration. St Rumbold of Mecklin is a different matter. He is believed to have been a monk, probably Anglo Saxon, so a missionary among the wild tribes of the Low Countries, working there with St Willibrand; being made a bishop and becoming a martyr circa 775, when he was murdered at Mecklin (near Brussels) where, keen to share his faith even at risk of his life, he is honoured as patron of the cathedral.
You can perhaps understand St Rumbold of Northamptonshire being remembered in the Midlands, though those who venerated him would have to be rather credulous, not to say superstitious. (There’s a theory that the whole fable regarding him was invented to try to impress those who queried the practice of infant baptism. As with some politicians today so then, if you believed something fervently enough yourself, you were perhaps not too fussy about the ‘evidence’ you brought forward when trying to convince others.) There seems no obvious reason, though, why the infant saint’s cult should have spread to Dorset. It’s certainly not impossible that it should have done, since it’s amazing how knowledge and ideas could spread from country to country across Europe, let along from one part of a country to another. But it is much more likely that St Rumbold of Mecklin should have been revered in Dorset through having connections locally, or even originating hereabouts.
I say this since the only other St Rumbold’s church in Dorset is as near as Shaftesbury; and St Boniface (Bishop and Martyr) was another fellow worker in the same part of Europe, being known to have recruited missionary helpers like St Walburga from Wimborne Minster. Since we are all called to be missionaries in the age in which we live I plump heavily, then, for St Rumbold of Mecklin as the saint for Pentridge Parish. Is this wishful thinking? I hope not, feeling that of the two possibilities he just looks the more probable.
These are some of our school’s past achievements.
Sixpenny Handley First School compares very favourably with any of the other schools in the local area. However these successes were achieved by our staff despite weaknesses in the school infrastructure needed to support them in their delivery of a first class education to the children.
This is now being addressed.
For those who have not passed by the school in the last six months then come and have a look and see the difference.
This £750,000 project will be complete in the spring.
Thank you to our neighbours for their tolerance of the building works.
The worst part is over!
There is a real sense of excitement growing with the building................
Before 1873 the earlier school was, as I understand it, in a different location and closer to the church. In their wisdom the local authority at the time, with the school managers, built the school on what was perhaps to become one of the most dangerous corners in the village. Perhaps this was a mistake but the engineering that went into this old school has stood, and will continue to stand, the test of time. The quality of the cladding of the internal roof, hidden for many years, has impressed the modern building professionals who have seen it during the recent works.
Undoubtedly, the school went through a number of ‘transformations’ during 130 years. These include the provision of a ‘new’ classroom at about the time of World War II. We talk of Class 3, or the hut on the hill, or the HORSA building. By the time of its arrival the school was well into its first century. The HORSA building was always intended as a short-term, limited life building but that too has gone well beyond its fair life span.
Its condition is such that if we do not demolish it, it will fall down. It is becoming harder to keep it safe and more expensive to maintain. Its days are now numbered and its future life span measured in months. It too has not been without its own bit of history: there may be some people in the village who will remember in 1973 that the HORSA building had its own boiler fire. The fire brigade arrived from Blandford in about 9 minutes, so it is said, by which time the staff had actually put the fire out!
My first experience of the school in 1987 saw the previous Headteacher teaching and operating the school, with the assistance of her secretary, Mrs Day, who sat and worked in the corner of a classroom. The school premises at that time consisted of the two big classrooms and the HORSA building alone. The school house was then occupied by a tenant with no direct connection to the school. Following our present headteacher’s appointment and, quite correctly, needing some separate and proper office space, she succeeded in finding ‘a place to call her own’. She was tucked away with Mrs Day and three filing cabinets in the cloakroom of the HORSA building, more recently converted into two toilet cubicles.
Things started to move forward in the early 1990's as the Board of Governors became somewhat more ‘militant’ with those who held the power at County Hall in Dorchester. It was not too long before the toilets were given a new roof and linked to the school. The tenant in the school house was satisfactorily re-housed. The old school was given new roof tiles. In relative terms these were fairly significant steps forward but still we had no school hall and the accommodation was a lot less than perfect. The children were being sent to other schools for their PE.
Three years ago, at the turn of the last century, the Board were actively pressing the LEA for the re-development of the school. The need for school refurbishment had at least been recognised by the County Council but they had insufficient funds.
Over time significant funds were made available by Government:
· to provide halls for schools that did not have them
· to remove outdated buildings where they still existed.
We scored well on both of these points. These monies amounted to about half of the cost of the new school buildings. It took some extra time to get the County Council fully on board. Initially the Council’s officers, who embarked upon the project with us, were reluctant passengers and sought to defer and to delay and to phase the building works for many years to come.
The Board of Governors responded that they should effectively wait until they had sufficient money to complete the project at one time. Finally, after much debate everyone was in common accord.
So it is that we come to the major development that is happening at the school as you read this. The school is going to have its new ‘state of the art’ hall and a replacement teaching space for the HORSA building that will then go. The extent of the development can be seen by anyone passing the Common Road side of the school.
The lack of road safety consideration of 130 years ago has been addressed as far as we were able. This was by the location and construction of the new school entrance and ramp in Common Road. When we take over Phase 1, the existing entrance for the school will then be re-allocated to staff and service vehicles alone. Normal access to the school will be via the new entrance and security zone as added protection for the children.
The new school is going to have 21st century technology. There will be specialised under floor heating and no radiators to be seen. The new classroom and the hall will have exposed wooden trusses to reflect the style of the old Victorian building which it seeks to emulate. Entrances and exits are to be much more secure and our present security systems will have a major upgrade but without imposing on the family ‘ethos’ of the school that we cherish. Access to the school building will be balanced against the need to keep children and staff safe as they learn and are taught.
It was planned that during the summer holidays, with the addition of teachers’ training days at both ends of the holiday, we would shoehorn as much re-development as we could into the old school. When the school is re-visited you will see that doors have appeared where none existed and that, in other cases, where there were formerly passageways, walls have appeared. True to form, the building did not let us down, even though she had undergone significant surgery. Whilst the work we had intended to do was not complete and has been deferred in part, it has not affected the re-opening or the operation of the school. The weekend before term saw two containers go from the playground and builders working on a Sunday. Our apologies to neighbours for the 7.45 am alarm call! The drills were needed to connect a drain.
There is no doubt that the school is undergoing a radical change, transformation and enlargement but, nevertheless, the Governors remain committed to the delivery of a first class education, with the latest possible teaching technology, for the ongoing benefit of the children. Fortunately, with the quality and quantity of staff available, we can ensure that our pupils have the best chance, right from the start, to succeed in life.
And so we look to the future. No one can say what the situation is going to be 130 years from now but I would like to think that the school, once it is extended and re-developed, will still represent a valuable asset to the village community.