outlook - st. thomas' church,...
TRANSCRIPT
May 2016 50p
Serving the communities of Mellor, Marple Bridge, Moor End, Mill Brow,
Cote Green and Ludworth.
www.mellorchurch.org facebook.com/stthomasmellor
@stthomasmellor
OUTLOOK
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The Parish of St Thomas , Mellor Registered Charity No. 1130414
Vicar: Rev’d Alex Sanders MA, The Vicarage, 51 Church Road, Mellor 427 1203
Phone 0161 484 5079 (Parish Office) email [email protected]
www.mellorchurch.org
Parish Office The Parish Centre, Church Road, Mellor, Stockport SK6 5LX For all enquiries and bookings for the Church & Parish Centre Phone: 484 5079 The office is open Monday to Friday 9.30am to 12.30pm
Reader Reader Emeritus
Nick Sanders 51 Church Road, Mellor 427 1203 Dr Peter Harrison 24 Clement Road, Marple Bridge 427 6542
Parish Office AdministratorParish Secretary
Val Wallace (Mon, Wed & Thurs mornings) Peta Stockton (Tues & Fri mornings)
Churchwardens Anthea Nicholls 18 Townscliffe Lane, Marple Bridge 427 2187 Richard Elliott 64 Ernocroft Road, Marple Bridge 427 5981
Dep.Churchwarden David Butterworth Lea Cottage, 18 Low Lea Road, Marple Bridge 427 7469
PCC Treasurer Karen Greenough, Podnor Farm, Moor End 449 8234
Assistant Treasurers:
Gordon Johnson (Gift Aid and Envelope Scheme) David Butterworth (Income) Anthea Nicholls (Expenditure) Lynda Gwyther (Deputy Assistant: Income)
PCC Secretary Julie Elliott
Director of Music Jonathan Lo
Outlook Editor Guy Nicholls
Members of the PCC David Butterworth, Julie Elliott, Beverley Williams, Lynda Gwyther, Helen Kennedy, Alex Gunz, Karen Greenough, Catherine Starling
Diocesan/Deanery Representatives
Julia Mann & Judith Shiel / Mary Heijbroek, Ann Hearle & Richard Benford-Miller
Churches Together in Marple Representative Helen Kennedy
Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals are arranged through the Parish Office
Articles for publication should be submitted to the Parish Office (preferably by email to [email protected]). The deadline for the June 2016 edition is 15th May.
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Vicar’s Viewpoint
It’s May, it must be Pentecost! So what is Pentecost, and why does it matter?
Pentecost (also known as Whitsun) is a Christian festival; it celebrates the arrival of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus’ disciples after He had ascended to Heaven. Jesus had promised to send His disciples another ‘Advocate’ or ‘Comforter’ or ‘Helper’ – and they certainly
needed one! Jesus had been their leader and teacher for three years before He died on the cross then rose to life again. Without His continuing presence, the disciples were unsure what to do, what to say, where to go, and especially unsure how they could share the news that Jesus is the Son of God.
As promised, the Holy Spirit arrived with the disciples and his presence was felt to be like a rushing wind, or a sensation of flickering flames. Just to make quite sure that everyone knew that this happening was of God Himself, the disciples found themselves speaking in languages that they had never learned but which others understood. Peter spoke eloquently to the gathering crowds, and some three thousand people became followers of Jesus that day. It was a truly amazing day.
It was a day worthy to be remembered and celebrated by Christians each year at Pentecost. But the best and most exciting element of all was that the Holy Spirit arrived and never left – he’s still active today. The Holy Spirit still advocates (he promotes ideas and intentions) and teaches; he still comforts by his permanent presence, and still helps us. He has been described as a ‘living legacy left by Jesus to all who love Him’.
Another description that I like is that of the Holy Spirit ‘as the electricity or energy of God, felt by us’. We may feel him sometimes as conscience, or inspiration, or may see the evidence of his movements in other people’s lives.
Jesus told His disciples that God would send them ‘another Helper’; the Greek words used in St John’s Gospel to report this may be translated as ‘one like me, who is called alongside’. Jesus walked alongside His disciples, through thick and thin, for three years; it is wonderful to realise that ‘one like Him’ walks alongside us today.
With every blessing, Alex
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR MAY 2016
1 Sun
6th Sunday of Easter
8.30am
10.00am
6.30pm
Holy Communion
Parish Communion
Evening Prayer
4 Wed
10.00am
8.00pm
Holy Communion
Pilgrim Group (Vicarage)
5 Thurs Ascension Day
8.00pm Ascension Day service – ‘Churches Together’ at Mellor Church
8 Sun
7th Sunday of Easter
8.30am
10.00am
6.30pm
Holy Communion
Parish Communion
Evening Prayer
9 Mon 10.45am–12 noon Coffee with the Vicar (Parish Centre)
10 Tues 7.45pm PCC Meeting (Parish Centre)
11 Wed 10.00am Holy Communion
12 Thurs 9.30am–10.00am ‘Praise & Play’ (Parish Centre)
13 Fri 7.30pm Antiques Auction (Parish Centre)
14 Sat 9.45am – 4.00pm Marriage Preparation Day (Vicarage)
15 Sun
Pentecost
8.30am
10.00am
12.30pm
2.00pm
6.30pm
Holy Communion
Parish Communion
Holy Baptism
Rose Queen Concert (Parish Centre) Choral Evensong
18 Wed 10.00am
8.00pm
Holy Communion
Pilgrim Group (Vicarage)
22 Sun
Trinity Sunday
8.30am
10.00am
6.30pm
All Day
Holy Communion
Parish Communion
Evening Prayer
Mellor Open Gardens
24 Tues 7.30pm Fete Shower (122 Longhurst La)
25 Wed 10.00am Holy Communion
29 Sun
1st Sunday after
Trinity
8.30am
10.00am
6.30pm
Holy Communion
Parish Communion
Evening Prayer
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The Women’s Evening Fellowship meets on the second Wednesday at 8.00 pm (Parish Centre) The Choir practises each week on Friday at 6.45 pm Guides meet each week on Tuesday 7.15pm to 8.45pm (Parish Centre) Tea and Friendship meets on the first Wednesday 1.45pm to 3.45pm (Parish Centre) Toddlers Group meets on Thursday each week 10.00am (Parish Centre) Prayer Group meets on Monday each week 10.30am (Parish Centre)
Social Media
Find us on Facebook (and please ‘Like’ us!) at ‘St Thomas, Mellor’
Follow us on Twitter @stthomasmellor
Please note that the Directory on Page 2 of this month’s Outlook is not completely up to date. The Annual Parochial Church Meeting was held on 24th April at which a new Deputy Churchwarden was elected as well as new members of the Parochial Church Council (PCC). Sadly, this came after the publication date for this month’s magazine. The up-to-date directory will, of course, be available next month, together with the report of that meeting.
Mellor Church Fete
and Bands on the Hill
Save the date! Saturday 25th June 2016 Our magnificent Country Fete will be back on 25th June with more family-friendly fun, more furry and winged visitors, delicious lunches and teas, our famous Beer Tent and, we hope, our inaugural Family Trail Run.
In the evening, Bands on the Hill has some amazing musicians booked, and a fine selection of street-food purveyors will be there.
More news next month… and if you can spare some time to help, I'd love to hear from you! Beverley (07718515890).
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Seeping semiotics Peter Barnes
At some point in the 1970s a group of church-goers decided to erect a 20ft tall wooden cross on Cobden Edge. It’s a fairly impressive structure, and yet Mellor Cross isn’t marked on the Ordnance Survey map. For some reason, it doesn’t really stick out in the landscape either - which is odd, because when you stand at the foot of this cross and take in the view across Greater Manchester, it feels like the most conspicuous place in England.
Cobden Edge is not a geographical feature that particularly grabs your attention, so ordinarily I probably wouldn’t make a point of visiting it. But because a few people saw fit to plant a thumping great cross up there four decades ago, I seem to regard the place as some kind of
destination. If I’m going for a run, I can't go near that hillside without taking in the familiar, dramatic, never-changing Mellor Cross. Now I’m not a religious man, but for me there is definitely a power about those timbers. I think they call it atmosphere. Without the cross, the location is just another pretty Pennine hill with a lovely view. And without that location, the cross would be literally nothing - it was built specifically to be erected in that particular spot. And so you have a location and an object that together make a destination. A destination that keeps on pulling me back.
As I said, I’m no Christian. I am, however, somebody who appreciates sculpture and form, so you’d think the presence of any large, man-made arrangement on that hillside might have a similar effect on me. But it doesn’t. And I know that, because Mellor Cross isn’t there anymore; it’s been replaced by something awful. On my most recent run near Cobden Edge I looked up expecting to see the familiar cross, and saw instead a giant capital letter T. The entire top portion of the huge religious symbol had completely vanished. I found the missing section lying in a hollow a few feet from the main upright. It was rotten and must have snapped clean off in one of the many storms that had tormented Britain that winter. It was just an old lump of wood that nature had seen fit to move a short distance from where man had intended it, and yet the effect was profound. Immediately all the power and atmosphere of the structure - and the place - had gone.
Why did the change from an X to a T make such a huge difference to me? I
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don’t feel moved by the story of Christ. The crucifixion has no great significance for me. And yet, one minor alteration to a shape which once stirred my soul now rendered it so completely charmless as to be almost invisible. The big T just looked like some kind of pylon or mast, a piece of infrastructure that your eye seems innately programmed to disregard. People talk about the power of symbols, but I had never really thought about it until this one experience forced a little introspection. And the best I can come up with is that I have spent a lifetime unconsciously absorbing the meaning and emotion connected with crosses. When you’re born and raised in a Christian country, the cross is everywhere; it’s in the Scout hut, the Church hall and the school assembly room. Its in the history books and it’s on the news, representing conflicts and nations and affiliations affecting millions of people all around the world every single day.
And it means so much to some folks that they will erect examples in the most prominent places they can find - like pretty, green Pennine hillsides where, it seems, some of the emotion involved in their construction seeps out into the landscape, and on into the bones of passing runners.
MOGpotpeople! Mary Hoult
Are you a bit creative? Do you have some spare flowerpots? Would you like to support Mellor Open Gardens (MOG) by helping to decorate our village with flowerpot men? If so, you are invited to make and display a MOGpotperson in your front garden in time for Mellor Open Gardens on Sunday May 22nd. The design is your own – it can be simple or complex, but to show its allegiance to the event, your MOGpotperson needs to be holding a flag of support. These small flags, kindly sponsored by Julian Wadden, feature our very own friendly MOGpotperson specially drawn by cartoonist Tony Husband. MOGflags will be on sale for £1 from the beginning of May at Jenni-fleurs in
Marple Bridge and at Mellor School. And so our whole community has the opportunity to contribute to the enjoyment of our visitors on Mellor Open Gardens day. Please do join in – you will be supporting Cancer Research UK as well as your own community facility, the Parish Centre.
Phone Mary on 0161 427 7255 or email [email protected] for further information or suggestions.
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You can’t judge a book…. Mike Barley
Back in the 1960s there was a group of American rhythm and blues and rock singers who became legends – Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Carl Perkins, and so on. On the fringes of this group was Bo Diddley. I was always unsure of his right to be mentioned in the same breath as the others. He had gimmicks – a tartan suit, a rectangular guitar – and his songs all seemed the same. Dum di-dum-dum-DUM-DUM, dum-di-dum-dum-DUM-DUM. But one song had a verse which went like this –
You can’t judge an apple by looking at the tree, You can’t judge a river by looking at the sea, You can’t judge a sister by looking at her brother, You can’t judge a book by looking at its cover… (Dum-di-dum-dum-DUM-DUM)
A change of tack now. At the end of the last war, the motor industry of Zwickau, which found itself in the newly formed East Germany, was pillaged by the Russians. All worthwhile pieces of machinery and raw materials were shipped to Russia. Factories were left bare. There had been a big Audi works, and Zwickau was famous for its up-market limousines in the 1930s.
Now only the engineers were left, led by Werner Lang, who died last year. With government encouragement they were tasked with making a car. The result was the Trabant, for many years treated as a joke in the West. Its outer panels were developed using waste cotton compressed with polyresin from brown coal. The engines were two-stroke because only motorbike motors were available. There were no disc brakes, no oil filter, and no fuel gauge…petrol flow was by gravity, the tank being above the engine, which had only five moving parts.
The 1967 model stayed in production until re-unification in 1991. You could be on a waiting list for up to eighteen years! Twenty years later the ‘Trabbi’ has acquired cult status. There are museums and collectors’ ‘meets’. It is a focus of nostalgia and affection. Their improvisation, resourcefulness and ingenuity may not have produced the finest car in the world, but Werner Lang and his colleagues deserve better than the scorn and ridicule often directed at the Trabant - you can't judge a book by looking at its cover!
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Mellor Open Gardens Meg Barley
Plans are well under way for Mellor Open Gardens 2016 to be held on Sunday 22nd May. Thank you to all those people who have already volunteered to help by preparing and/or serving food, making cakes, helping on the car park and the many other jobs that will help to make the day run smoothly. There are still jobs available for all ages, including teenagers. We need people to clear tables, sell raffle tickets, prepare food, sell plants etc. We also need strong people who can help to move tables and chairs at the Parish Centre and the Primary School before and after the event. Many hands really do make light work. If you can spare a couple of hours we would be very grateful.
The day is divided into two-hour ‘slots’ for volunteers. If you are willing to do two ‘slots’ you are entitled to visit the gardens at a special time in the week following the event, so you don’t miss out. We still need cakes, especially unfilled Victoria sponges which can be filled with jam and cream on the day. These can be taken to the Parish Centre or the Primary School on the day, or given to me beforehand and I will store them in my freezer.
Do you have hens? Could you spare some eggs? If so, please let me know. As you know the proceeds of the event are divided between Cancer Research UK and Mellor Parish Centre – two very worthwhile causes that are close to the hearts of people in the local community. We need over a hundred volunteers, so if you can help please contact me on [email protected] or 427 4370. Thank you for your support.
Mellor Country Fete Shower Maggie Williams
24th May 2016 , 7.30pm, 122 Longhurst Lane, Mellor
Mellor Country Fete is nearly upon us. Do come and support this lively occasion, in advance of the actual event. Strawberries, scones, Bring and Buy stall and a Raffle will be among the many goodies to be found at Maggie Williams house on this evening.
Please come with any donations you wish to make and have a glass of wine and lots of fun. Tickets cost £3.50 and are available from any member of the WEF committee.
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Baker's delight..... Jill Baker
Sticky Toffee Cake For fans of sticky toffee pudding (and who isn’t?) this cake came from a newspaper cutting where it is given the title of the ‘Queen Mother’s favourite cake’...
4 oz/100g chopped dates (the pressed packets are fine) 1 tsp. bicarbonate of soda 6 oz/150g caster sugar 6oz/150g soft margarine or butter 2 oz/50g chopped walnuts optional 1 beaten egg 1 tsp vanilla essence 1 tsp. baking powder ½ tsp salt
Topping ingredients 5 tbsp soft brown sugar 2 tbsp butter or margarine 2 tbsp single cream Few chopped walnuts if liked
Method
Line a swiss roll tin with baking parchment, building up the sides and set the oven to 175C/350F .
Pour a cup of boiling water over the dates and add the bicarbonate of soda.
Let it stand whilst you mix all the other ingredients together, beating with an electric beater if you have one. Add the walnuts if desired then add the cooled date mixture.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
Once cooled make the topping by mixing the ingredients in a small pan and melting over a gentle heat until they are fully combined. Boil for three minutes. Do not leave alone!
Cool and spread over the cake, sprinkling with walnuts if desired.
You could substitute pecans for walnuts, or leave the nuts out completely if you prefer.
One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.
Virginia Woolf
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Pruning - Planting
Felling - Stump Grinding
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Auction of Art, Antiques and Collectables To be held at the Parish Centre on Friday 13th May at 7.30pm in aid of Church Funds. There will be a 20% donation on the hammer price for items sold at the auction although some people may wish to donate all the money raised.
Items entered for the auction should be of a reasonable value. If you would like to enter items for the auction please fill in the form on page 28 (one form per item please) and return to the Parish Office marked ‘Auction’. Please register items for the auction as soon as possible, and before 7th May, to allow time for the catalogue to be compiled.
We would be most grateful if you would bring items for the auction to the Parish Centre on Thursday 12th May after 3.00 pm. Viewing will be on the evening of the 12th 7.30– 9.00pm. Further viewing will be available on Friday 13th 10.00–11.30am and before the auction starting at 6.00pm. The auction starts at 7.30pm If drop-off is not possible on the Thursday please leave a note with your contact details on the registration form so an alternative time can be found.
Prayer group
Monday morning prayer group - 10.30 Monday mornings at the Parish Centre - in the Library.
I have been asked to write a few words about what happens. I feel I have seen how it works from both sides. For several years I had to look after a family member with dementia. I did not know I was on a list, being prayed for, and I am not sure how I became aware of it, but I found it immensely reassuring, and it gave me a peace of mind and inner strength to cope with the situation. Since my relative died, I have been going to the Monday morning prayer group, where usually three or four meet, maybe more, to pray for half an hour, mainly in silence. A list of people we pray for is read out.
I remember reading Alexander McCall Smith's “The Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency” and being struck by the main character having a list of people she prayed for. The most unlikely people would ask her to put someone onto her list, which was very touching. So if you are passing and would like to join us you would be very welcome.
If you would like someone putting on the list either contact Alex the Vicar or Alison Dowdeswell or you can leave a message at the Parish Office. If you have time there is coffee and a biscuit too.
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Mellor Musing 7 Peter Forbes
“We all make mistakes”: a comforting statement from somebody who is trying to cheer you up after something has gone wrong. “We learn from our mistakes”: another aphorism which is usually kindly meant, again as a comfort when it is clear our efforts have not had the intended outcome. And indeed we do learn from our mistakes, especially during childhood, as we learn how to use our bodies and train them to acquire various skills. At the same time our brains are maturing and become more generally capable as we discover how to gain the abilities we will need to enjoy life and earn a living.
Part of being a good parent consists of helping our children to recover from their mistakes, and to use the experience to perform better in the future. But the question arises, when is ‘a mistake’ a mistake? Sometimes an act may be regarded not as a mistake but as revealing incompetence, stupidity or a deliberate course of action, where allowing the person to try again is not an option. One thinks of sports personalities who have been caught out using drugs to enhance performance saying ‘I made a terrible mistake’ or ‘It was an error of judgment’ where that phrase is an attempt to deny a deliberate policy to enhance performance agreed with coaches and managers. Football club managers, company directors and politicians frequently find that they cannot learn the lesson of their mistakes in the position in which they are currently employed because they have been sacked for taking actions which cannot be tolerated, or which are not regarded as mistakes which can be forgiven or are unlikely to be repeated.
We live in a world where criticism is distributed worldwide on the social media with very little allowance for human error. We need to distinguish between human frailty and deliberate action, and to make the appropriate allowances where they are due. A career need not be blighted irrevocably because of a genuine mistake, and where the person involved shows signs of learning how not to repeat the error. However, people who try to cover up bad behaviour by pleading ‘it was a mistake’ need to be monitored in the future to see if they have modified their behaviour: actions speak louder than words.
We’ve just come back from holiday. It was a terrible holiday camp. I went to the office and said "It's about the roof of our chalet."
The man said: "What about it?”
And I said, "We'd like one."
Whenever I get the ‘flu, I go to bed and take a bottle of whisky with me -- and within three or four hours it's gone. Mind you, I've still got the ‘flu.
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Theatre on the Hill - 84 Charing Cross Road Kareen Dayes
The team of 'Theatre on the Hill' scored a resounding success with their recent production of 84 Charing Cross Road. By way of some judicious direction the play adapted well to both the intimate atmosphere of the venue and to its limitations. Playing to a virtually full house on all three nights displayed not
only the popularity of the piece, but also the quality of the performance.
Once again our small catchment area unearthed a wealth of local talent. Both the leading actors rewarded their casting with excellent portrayals of their characters. Personally I liked some of the clever touches in the background, which revealed the thought which had gone into the production. For instance, changing the pictures of the American Presidents etc. to indicate the passage of time. Also the choice of interleafing music throughout was perfect to depict the popular tunes of the day. Then for those in the audience of a certain age, who were themselves fortunate to have relations 'across the pond', it brought back memories of food parcels. These parcels were inevitably packed with tins of meat and the infamous 'dried egg'. And who amongst us already familiar with the book was prepared with our handkerchief for the extra final twist in the last scene?
There was everything here, humour, poignancy plus a good story, well acted. All in all it was a most enjoyable evening’s entertainment, with the added bo-nus that apart from the required licence fee every penny from ticket sales was pure profit. This totalled an extremely creditable sum of over £1,500 going directly into Church funds. So very well done to Guy and his team, both front of house plus the 'backroom boys'. We look forward with eager anticipation to more productions from Mellor's own theatre company in the future.
Peter Cunningham Memorial Concert Paddi Cunningham
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the concert scheduled for 23rd May will not now take place.
Prejudices, it is well known, are most difficult to eradicate from the heart whose soil has never been loosened or fertilized by education; they grow firm there, firm as weeds among stones. Charlotte Bronte
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Stockport League and Tameside League matches played Tuesday and Thursday, 7pm
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For further details contact: Peter Hotson 427 6253
Ann Preston 01663 742831
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Peak Sketches Ed. Among the many old books we have lying around our house, some came from Mrs Editor’s Mellor family home. She tells me her first Jowett ancestor came to Mellor in about 1780 and married into a family of even older Mellor residents.
Browsing through one of these little family books called ‘Peakland Pickings’, we came across a poem written about Mellor church. We don’t know how old the poem is, but the book refers to “Hutchinson’s Tour through the Peak in 1809”. The poet’s initials are T.E.
Mellor Church, Derbyshire
Most ancient church of Mellor, romantic is the site
Whereon the founders planted thee on yon alpine height That overlooks the valley where Goyt’s swift waters flow
And Marple sends her sweetest peals when gentle breezes blow.
Across the hill whereon thou stands the wind has full career, And sweeps around the battlements with music loud and clear,
And tears away with furious blast against the hoary tower, First as a rock it keep-like stands, resisting all its power.
For centuries thy splendid form has stood upon the crest
Of that green hill - where round thy walls the weary are at rest; No tree protects thee east or west, and south thy walls are bare,
But northward stands the Vicarage - and thou art sheltered there.
The summer sun its warmth has shed upon thy sacred walls, When dawn lights up the eastern sky, and shade of evening falls,
The flowers beneath thy welcome shade have flung their scent around Those mounds of Christians dear within thy hallowed ground.
Without the storm has raged, and winter snows have shed
Their pure white flakes in graceful wreaths above the peaceful dead; A spotless sheet of purity, fit emblem of the just,
Covering with fitting robe the Christians' slumbering dust.
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Noble hearts have placed thee there in days long passed away, And rich and poor within thy walls alike have come to pray;
To thee in sorrow and in joy the Christian has repaired. And there in God's unbounded love, his steadfast faith declared.
Once, only once, it's been my lot to join the happy throng,
And bend the knee in prayer to Thee to whom all praise belongs, But blissful were the moments spent in that old sacred Fane,
As the preacher told what joys await the followers of Thy Name.
For near eight hundred years the church has crowned the old green hill, And sentry-like it watch and ward keeps o'er the village still;
Thro' weal and woe, and many a change since Stephen's distant reign, Beneath its roof have faithful hearts joined in sweet refrain.
Long may the tower of Mellor Church, though stained by many a gale,
Rear its time-worned battlements above the lovely vale, The sacred pile for many an age adorn the old green hill,
Pastor and flock with thankful hearts obey their Master's will.
TE
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Film on the Hill Cinema Manager
Our next Film on the Hill is scheduled for Saturday 4th June and will be Chariots of Fire. This film, first shown in 1981, was very successful at the 54th Academy Awards, winning four of seven nominations. It tells the fact-based story of two athletes in the 1924 Olympics: Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams. The film was conceived and produced by David Puttnam, written by Colin Welland, and directed by Hugh Hudson. It was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won four, including Best Picture and Best Screenplay. It is ranked 19th in the British Film Institute's list of Top 100 British films.
There will also be the usual 'show-stopping' raffle organised and conducted by the redoubtable and ever popular Lynda Gwyther - worth the ticket price in itself - and the chance
to experience the thrill of winning back what you donated as a raffle prize or what you would have donated if it had belonged to you in the first place.
There will be refreshments available and ice-creams sold by our attractive and very caring and helpful usherettes. Tickets £5 - show will start at 7.30 p.m.
Christian Aid week- 13th to 21st May Helen Kennedy
In spite of financial constraints and a shortage of collectors, Marple and District raised nearly £10,000 from the house-to-house collection last year. This is a terrific sum, but this year we have lost several volunteers so can only hope to match it if more people offer to help.
I need 3 people to help in the " Mellor Top" area, and Elisabeth Paxton, who coordinates the whole operation on behalf of "Churches Together", needs someone to help in Compstall. The areas covered are not large, and it's possible for 2 people to work together to make the task even easier. Do please consider if you can help - this is one way we can put our prayers for those who are in desperate need in overseas countries into action. I can be contacted at church or via the Parish Office.
If two wrongs don't make a right, try three. Laurence J. Peter
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Mellor War Memorial Project Tom Howling Of the Mellor men who died in the First World War, we have so far remembered just two who both died in the Gallipoli campaign in the summer of 1915. Since then there has been an absence of deaths to commemorate.
The war has continued, however, the Western Front is in deadlock. The arrival of better weather will mean plans to break this with a big push. July 2016 will see the hundredth anniversary of the Somme.
To avoid the need for a grim Outlook supplement, I will spread the commemorations of the six Mellor men who lost their lives in 1916 over the next 6 issues of Outlook.
As seen from Cow Corner Silly Point
On opening the newspaper the other day (yes, a newspaper: not all news updates have to be read on a device) I was comforted by the fact that the first-class cricket season had started as I viewed the scorecards from around the country. No play at Old Trafford however as there had been rain!
Being the start of the county playing season, there were lengthy articles concerning the delights and joy that had been given by past players and commentators who had departed during the course of the last twelve months. This has nothing to do with the start of the season for the local team, but acts
as a reminder of the exploits of the players who practised their abilities and artistry in a more leisurely age.
As the longer days are now with us, it has given impetus to the cricket league to remind clubs of the commencement of the season and in their enthusiasm and wisdom a decision has been made to advance the start of the playing season by one week. Of course this put the Mellor club into a state of panic, as no player has been seen since last August and no attention has been given to the ground to prepare it suitable for use after the wet winter months.
Urgency is of the essence, so when it stops raining, an attack on the preparation can commence. Unfortunately the 'ne'er-do-wells' of the area have invaded the equipment store and caused further damage to the building, still showing the evidence of the strong winds of a couple of years ago. The mowers, however, proved more resilient to the invasion and, after a few hearty tugs, burst into life.
After many hours of slaving, it was possible to render the ground into a reasonable condition for play. Word was then received from the league that the first matches of the season were going to be cancelled: at least everything would be ready for the following week!
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SERVICES INCLUDE:
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LOCAL TRANSPORTATION & ERRANDS
CONVALESCENCE SUPPORT
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Being able to live in your own home can be one of the most important comforts in an older person’s life, and because family and friends can’t always be there, we are here to help.
Our Caregivers help our clients to lead a more comfortable and con-fident life, offering a variety of ser-vices tailored to their individual needs.
From just a couple of hours a day, to full time, our care is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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Each Home Instead Senior Care franchise is independently owned and operated
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Friends of Mill Brow Lizzie McClelland
In late 2015 Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council removed the slide from Mill Brow Rec on health and safety grounds leaving the old set of swings as the only piece of play equipment on the park. With fantastic views up to Mellor Church and across to the Strines
valley and Marple Ridge, Mill Brow Rec really is a great place for families from Mill Brow, Marple Bridge and further afield to come and play or have a kick-about in a safe environment. It has been enjoyed by generations of children and it would be a shame if the latest generation were also the last!
Stockport Council have advised us that they do not intend to replace any equipment that has been removed or will be removed in the future due to lack of funds available in their Green Spaces budget. They are increasingly relying on 'Friends Groups' to maintain and finance our valuable parks and green spaces. As a voluntary community group it falls to 'The Friends of Mill Brow Rec' to source approximately £15,000 that we expect it to cost to provide new play equipment to secure the future of our much loved 'rec'. We are currently consulting with local children, SMBC, and play equipment providers to source the best and most appropriate equipment to help keep Mill Brow Rec a relevant community and recreational space into the future.
We hope to make grant applications to fund part of the project but without evidence of financial support from the community/local businesses these are unlikely to be successful.... And that's where you come in! If you or your family use the park or if you are one of the hundreds if not thousands of people with happy memories of using it in the past, perhaps you would consider making a small contribution and be part of the legacy of Mill Brow Rec for the future.
If you would like to find out more or to make a donation please visit our website www.millbrowrec.co.uk. You can also help in lots of other ways by 'spreading the word' and if you visit the park please take a picture and upload it on to the 'Friends of Mill Brow Rec' Facebook page.
Name two crustaceans. King's Crustacean and Charing Crustacean.
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Established 1920 Tel 427 2276
MALCOLM SHAW & SON LIMITED
M.N.A.F.D Golden Charter - Pre-paid Funeral Plans
Complete Funeral Directors - Private Chapel of Rest
OFFICE: 3 Church Street, Marple, Stockport SK6 6BT www.malcolmshawandsonltd.co.uk [email protected]
StoneWorks & Landscapes
All aspects of Stonework Landscaping
Flooring – external & internal stone Flagging, Patios, Driveways, Paths, Hallways, Kitchens etc..
Restoring – Stone Floor – Also restore old steps or
windowsills
Walling – Dry stone walling Designs carved to design or to match existing stone
work
Landscaping – Ground work, turfing etc.
Free Quotes
Call Will Maltby – 07771 657324
Advertising in Outlook The feedback from our advertisers suggests that they find Outlook to be a good source of business at a reasonable price. We do have more space available so if you know of someone who might be interested please mention this to them. Details about space and price are available from David Ackroyd on 427 1568 or [email protected]
Disclaimer
Please support our advertisers and mention Outlook, but note that the Parochial Church Council does not endorse or recommend the products or services advertised and is not responsible for the content of, or any claims or representations in, such advertisements.
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Auction of Art, Antiques and Collectables at Mellor Parish Centre
On Friday 13th May 2016 at 7.30pm in aid of church funds
Please complete one form for each item entered and return to the Parish Office marked ‘Auction’. You will be notified when to deliver your items
for the auction .
Lot number (for office use) Description Reserve price: £ Contact details (address, phone number and e mail) I agree that 20% of the hammer price will be donated to
Mellor Church Funds or I would like to donate all the money raised to the Church
Funds (Please delete one option)
Signed
Please print name
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Roofing & Property
Maintenance For ALL aspects of property care—
repair, replacement & Installation
Call David on
Tel: 0161 612 7979
Mobile 07769 950598 or 07876 388703
Email: [email protected]
142 Compstall Road,
Marple Bridge SK6 5HD
All locks expertly repaired and fitted.
The latest anti-snap lock technology.
uPVC door and window repair & care.
24 hour call out, with no call-out charge.
Full 12 month guarantee on all work.
10% discount to readers of Outlook.
[Quote ‘Mellor Parish’]
Call to book your free winter
Home Security Survey.
0161 427 7025
www.sure-locks.co.uk Sure Locks is a local business, based in Mellor.
We accept all major credit & debit cards.
Stone Slating
Slating
Tiling
Chimney Repairs
Flat Roofs
Velux Windows
Established 1898
Roofing Contractors & Merchants
80 Stockport Road Marple, Cheshire
Tel 427 3752
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Tea and Friendship Nancy Cloughley
The wonderful providers of our treats at the Tea and Friendship really excelled themselves this time but, as one of them said, “everybody does a bit and it doesn’t seem an effort.” They also decorated the room with royal banners and streamers and the tables too were beautifully dressed for the celebration of the Queen’s 90th birthday. Two of our friends present were also celebrating their 90th.
We were each given an identical plate of goodies, far to much to eat at once, so we were even provided with the wherewithal to take the rest to enjoy at home. There was a raffle of further goodies splendidly conducted by grand- children who were being cared for in the holiday and they were also very helpful serving and clearing away. The floral decorations on the tables were distributed and the party ended after we all sang “Happy Birthday” to the Queen.
Another big thank you Ed.
As a follow-up to my article of praise for the team who help me to bring Outlook to your doorstep, I felt a similar article is necessary in praise of further stalwart volunteers who strive to make our community a privileged place in which to live. Whilst attending, on 7thMarch, the very enjoyable and impressive Peter Cunningham Memorial Jazz Concert performed by three excellent musicians, I couldn’t help but think again how lucky we are in Mellor.
The praise and thanks therefore in this article are for the volunteers who make up the Management Committee and Friends of the Parish Centre. Without their involvement and commitment to help keep the Parish Centre running, the lives of so many people in our community would be less rich. There is Art, Karate, Toddlers, Tea and Friendship, Women’s Evening Fellowship, Women’s Institute, Kettfusion, Guides, Rhythm Time, Twins’ Club, Archaeology Group, Yoga, Concerts, Rose Queen events, Textiles events, Weddings, Funeral Receptions and Church Fete Day Teas and Refreshments and occasional conferences, not forgetting Theatre on the Hill, Film on the Hill and other activities which take place in the Centre, many put on by the Friends Committee. So on behalf of many people who are users of our Parish Centre through-out the year, thank you Management Committee and Friends Committee for your hard work in ensuring the survival of this essential and much-loved facility.
To save money, our local hospital now gets the patients to make their own beds. When you check in they give you a tool box and some wood (will that still be a joke in the future?).
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ODD JOB REQUIRED
Local Handyman for
domestic jobs
Free advice given
Contact Vin on
0161 427 6907
Loft Convers ions, Bathrooms Fireplaces & Stonework
and a l l o ther t ypes o f bu i l d ing work
Telephone 07816 178611 0161 427 6890
K W a l t o n IYENGAR YOGA Mellor Parish Centre
Tuesday evening 7.15 - 8.45pm
Wednesday morning 10 - 11.30am
Brabyns Park
Thursday morning 10.30 - 12noon
Romiley Forum
Monday morning 9.30-10.30am
Chadkirk Business Park
Friday morning 10 - 11am
Please contact Mary Griffiths
0161 427 1405 07890 491982
T B G I n s p e c t i o n S e r v i c e s (E l e c t r i c a l Con t ra c to r s )
ELECTRICIAN
0 7 9 7 6 8 9 3 5 2 8 [email protected] www.tbginspection.co.uk
Areas covered by this publication
ALL WORK IS GUARANTEED AND INSURED
TRADING STANDARDS APPROVED
Domestic houses (extensions, conversions, new builds etc)
Commercial shops, offices, clubs, warehouses, farms, stables
Landlords inspections, maintenance services, callouts
Rewires and replacement consumer units
Garden lighting and power, garages and outbuildings
Alarms, security and fire, emergency lights, security lights
Inspections and test reports for insurance, house purchases.
CRB checked. No job too small
Part P Registered Domestic & Commercial
M E Beese
Full Scope All Electrical Systems
RHODES & PARTNERS CONSULTING CIVIL & STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS
40 Town Street, Marple Bridge, Stockport SK6 5AA Party wall surveyors & structural engineering advice and reports for residential and
commercial properties. Structural designs and calculations to building regulations for residential, leisure,
commercial, industrial and retail properties.
Visit: www.rhodesandpartners.co.uk or call 0161 427 8388
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Prayer for the Month
Thought for the Month
PRAYER FOR PENTECOST
Spirit of God, with your holy breath you cleanse the hearts and minds of your people; you comfort them when they are in sorrow, you lead them when they wander from the way, you kindle them when they are cold, you knit them together when they are at variance, and you enrich them with many and various gifts. We beseech you daily to increase those gifts which you have entrusted to us; that with your light before us and within us we may pass through this world without stumbling and without straying.
Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam (1466-1536) Erasmus was a much-travelled catholic priest during the Reformation. He held strong humanist views but remained committed to reforming the church and its clerics’ abuses from within.
The endless cycle of idea and action, Endless invention, endless experiment, Brings knowledge of motion, but not of stillness; Knowledge of speech, but not of silence; Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?
T. S. Eliot: ‘The Rock’ (1934)
Thomas Stearns Eliot (1888-1965) was born in America and moved to England in 1914; he became one of the most influential poets of the 20th century.
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From the Registers
Holy Baptism
On 3rd April, Brody Spavin
On 7th April, Ryan Hallworth and Franchescia Beddard
PHOTOCOPYING FACILITIES AT THE PARISH CENTRE
We have excellent black-and-white photocopying facilities available at the Parish Centre at very competitive rates.
A4 – 5p a side and A3 – 13p a side.
Please contact the Parish Office on 484 5079 for more information.
Women's Evening Fellowship Margaret Oldham
The April meeting began with a round of applause for the new Chairwoman, Janet Jones, and her committee members! Notices included the outing to Staircase House on 13th July: everyone welcome. It costs £20 including coach fare, entry to the House, introductory talk, use of audio guide and refreshments at the Arden Arms, conveniently accessed from the rear door of Staircase House.
The Fete Shower will be at Maggie Williams' house: see elsewhere for details (page 11). Lorraine Forbes read an Ogden Nash poem, then Janet introduced our speaker Judith Vickers of Lifeshare, a non-religious charity working to
prevent and break the cycle of homelessness, reduce harm and promote health. Had you been there, you would have been as carried away by the enthusiasm of our speaker, as she clearly is with her work. Lifeshare's Crisis Assessment Referral Diversity Service (CARDS) works with 16-25 year-olds facing homelessness and exploitation (sexual, emotional/psychological and gang violence) in Manchester.
This could be due to eviction, relationship breakdown, offending and leaving prison or care. Clients are offered hands-on care: a cooked breakfast at the weekends, the services of doctors, nurses, podiatrists and hairdressers, people to complete forms and accompany them to interviews, to stick up for their rights and see to it that they do not jump out of the frying-pan into the fire. Client quotes include: "They treat me like an individual. They aren't just trying to tick a box and get rid of me" "Down-to-earth and devoted staff. Lifeshare saves lives". After questions from the floor, the meeting ended - only to continue over tea and coffee.
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Stewards Rota
Church Rotas
Date 8.30 am 10.00 am 6.30 pm
1 May P Cooke P Long and A Muller A Dowdeswell
8 May A Mason T and P Holt J Shiel
15 May J Gregory A Allcard and H Ruffell R and J Elliot
22 May M Myatt I and C Hamilton M Myatt
29 May A Mason M Lowe and M Williams A Dowdeswell
Please arrange your own substitute. If necessary phone Anthea Nicholls on 427 2187. Stewards should sit where they can see the door easily, so they can see latecomers and hand them service books and show them to a seat.
1 May Anne Brooke 5 Jun Lorraine Forbes
8 May Sylvia Walton 12 Jun Alison Allcard
15 May Maggie Williams 19 Jun Karen Greenough
22 May Emma Houghton 26 Jun Fete weekend
29 May Cathie Lowe
If you wish to change a date please contact Jenny Johnson on 427 1348. The church key is also available from the Parish Office (484 5079) weekday mornings.
Holy Dusters Brass Cleaning
1 May P Long and A Muller May S Norbury and S Edmundson
8 May J and L Futcher
15 May P Holt and J Mann Please arrange your own substitute.
If necessary contact Anthea Nicholls on 427 2187 if there are any problems .
22 May A Allcard and J Jones
29 May R and J Elliott
5 Jun S McAllister and M Williams
Flower Rota
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0 1 6 1 9 4 7 4 8 0 0 - 4 L I N E SFir Tree Glassworks, 215 Gorton Road, Reddish, Stockport
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Glass cut to size Mirrors re-silvered Decorative Glass Laminated Safety Glass
Silvering Sandblasting Manufacturers of Sealed Units Leaded Light Specialists Splash backs
Bevelling & Mirrors Tinted Glass Embossing Brilliant cut
KEY HOLIDAYS TRAVEL AGENCY Established 1991
‘Creating Perfect Holidays For Over 20 Years’
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Call us or call in 0161 494 5881
Key House – 76 Compstall Road – Romiley – SK6 4DE
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Registered with Stockport Social Services
Telephone 0161 427 4293 Propr ietors: Mrs J Critchlow and Sons
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Katherine Scott Limited
Chartered Accountant
Kate Scott BA Hons FCA Sole Practitioner
Tax & VAT Returns, Payroll, Accounts Preparation, Bookkeeping
Free initial meeting
Marple Bridge
0161 355 5911 / 07855 785 450 [email protected]
R. SWEATMORE ELECTRICAL ENGINEER & CONTRACTOR
COBDEN FARM, COBDEN EDGE,
MELLOR
Telephone 0161 449 0710
Mobile 07759 495089
BSP
(Proprietor Greg Aldred)
Plumbers & Heating Efficiency Engineers
Tel: 01457 861875
Mob: 07811 383701
Glossop and Marple Bridge