Dear Friends,

I have such a problem with the tree outside the Rectory! It is a very beautiful tree – and ‘quite special’ I was told by our dear friend, John Niles. It is a form of Norwegian maple and has a preservation order on it. Or perhaps I have a problem with the house – whichever - the tree makes the inside of the house even darker and colder than it already is! We called the sitting room Calcutta for a long time after we moved here – before we had a new window installed half way down the side wall. Then there is the annual spring cull of several hundred – dare I say thousands – of small seeded Japanese Maples raring to get a foot hold in Bamfords Lane. I missed one last year – in the middle of a burberris: it was a foot high with roots twice as long by the time I got to it - remind me to show you the scars sometime!

Summer time brings the birds to the tree – always the largest and least well controlled. My sympathies go to any visitor who has been unfortunate enough to leave their car under it for more than two minutes! And woe betide any stray sunbeam that tries to sneak past the lush foliage into the house – it will be stopped! The tree also slurps up all the available water, so that trying to grow anything else in the front garden is a nightmare. At least it helps with the autumn exercise regime as we bend and stretch to clear the leaves, not only from our own garden but also from those of our less agile or busier neighbours.

But now it is spring and I love the tree. I keep watching from the bedroom window to catch sight of the first of the little yellow/orange fluffy flowers that are so beautiful and so invisible from ground level. The birds are already beginning to sing at daybreak from its branches – and best of all, it provides an excuse to leave the grass patch underneath in its wild state. It is no lawn – it is a patch of tufty grass and moss – but at this time of year it is home to masses of white and traditionally coloured violets, yellow primroses, self-set pink primulas, a few small daffodils – and who knows what else might pop up! It is for me a total joy and a sign of the great beauty to be found in all of God’s created order – even in the most inauspicious places.

Yours in Christ

Jo

All who work to enhance our environment, especially those working with trees.

For a greater willingness on behalf of governments to protect our environment.

For all affected by severe pollution.

This will take place in church on Monday 28th April at 7.30pm. It is an important meeting where the accounts for the year are presented and the new

PCC elected. It is important that you know what is happening in your church and is a forum where your voice can be heard. Do, please, put it in your diary and make an effort to be there. This year we need to elect a new secretary to the PCC. Laraine Coney who has done the job for the last few years has to step down for personal reasons – is this something you could do? If you would like to be nominated for role within the church, please speak to me or to one of the churchwardens

Jo Spray

The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

Numbers 6: 24-26

I was deeply grateful to Jim Lacey and to my husband, Rob, for stepping into the breach so magnificently one Sunday morning last month when I was suddenly struck down with a rather nasty ‘tummy bug’ in the early hours of a Sunday morning. Jim ably led Matins and Rob read the sermon and prayers that – in good Blue Peter fashion – I had prepared earlier. When you read this I shall be recovering (I hope) from a knee operation. I have been trying to find cover for services – and it is increasingly difficult. Many retired clergy are holding the fort in a parish where there is an interregnum and others are stretched to the limit. We are fortunate that in this instance Bishop Richard and Archdeacon Paul are able to help with two of the services, but that is not a long term solution.

I know that there are a number of people in our parish who are more than capable of leading worship well and some who have a deep spiritual leaning towards some kind of ministry – lay or ordained. Can I ask you to examine your heart over the next few weeks and see whether you may be willing to explore this calling further? There are many forms of ministry, all need some kind of formal ‘training and recognition’ but many now can be exercised in the place where you already live and worship. Please contact me if you would like to talk more about this.

Jo Spray

The next coffee morning will be a spring special from 10:15 on Saturday 12th April at Sinclair Fabrics, Bozeat by kind invitation of Sheila Alderman. Please contact Anne Claypole White (881661) if you need transport or directions to get there. In addition to the raffle and bring-and-buy stall for which contributions would be very welcome, Sheila is hoping to have a plant stall from Jeannie’s Country Garden (Olney) and will also be contributing remnants of her lovely fabrics. Do try to come it will be well worth the extra distance! Last months coffee morning raised £293 towards church funds. Many thanks to Richard and Judith Bray for hosting the event and to everyone who helped with and supported it. A good time was had by all!

Never let a stain from the past make a mark on your future

Gillian Graham 12

Open Weekend at All Saints Church, Odell – 2.00pm to 5.30pm both days. Take a trip up the tower for fantastic views across the Ouse valley – browse around the various displays, including material from the archives – enjoy a refreshing cuppa and a slice of home-made cake – wander round our lovely churchyard and see how many wild flowers you can identify. Join us on Sunday evening at 6.00pm for a special service of Evening Praise featuring the choir from St.Oswald’s Church, Croxley Green, Herts. Donations welcome in aid of our new Tea-Point and Toilet project.

At long last the alterations to the base of the Tower are almost complete. There are a few ‘snags’ to be sorted out but we shall soon be able to take formal possession of our new kitchen and lavatory. Already the benefits have been obvious – especially for those stalwart coffee makers who no longer have to dash to the main door of the church to get rid of the washing up water – and for those of us who sometimes got in the way! It is good not to have to remember the hot water from home for Baptisms and to be able to stay in church long enough to enjoy coffee and a chat with an easy mind!

When the kitchen is finally ‘handed over’ to the PCC, it will be necessary to decide where things are to be stored and how to make best use of the new space – if you have any interest in this, please let me know and we can arrange a small working party. There are still problems to be resolved, however, like where to store all the flower vases currently held in a rather inaccessible trunk stuck behind a tomb.

Wider benefits of the new facilities have already become obvious. On 7th June, the Franciscan Group from St Bennett’s Church, Cambridge will be visiting the church as part of a quiet day in the village. Without the facilities they could not have spent time with us apart from their act of worship.

Later on the same day we are expecting a group from the National Geologists’ Association who want to inspect the church walls.

We hope these kinds of visits will be the first of many.

Jo Spray

Profile by Cindy Woods

Ralph was born in the village of Shalford near Guildford, he has an older brother John who lives in Cranfield and a younger sister called Hazel who lives with her family on a farm at Staughton Moor, near Kimbolton. His parents were both in service in the early days and they moved to Newton Blossomville when Ralph was two, mainly because of the war (his dad was in the army then) bombs that missed London dropped on or near Guildford. After the war his dad went between jobs for the County Council and gardening. Ralph’s mothers sister was married to the postmaster in Newton Blossomville and Ralph’s mother helped in the post office along with Ralph’s Uncle who had originally helped Ralph's parent to buy the house in Newton Blossomville. The family kept lots of animals and had a pig, goats and chickens.

Ralph and his siblings all went to the local schools, and when he was twelve he attended Olney High until he left at fifteen. He says he was no good academically and only liked ballroom dancing, sport, gardening and woodwork or any thing else that could be done with his hands. During his latter years at school he would work the holidays on the farms or do people‘s gardens, after leaving school he went to work at Lodge Farm, Turvey for Mr. Wilson who was the tenant farmer at that time. Ralph was also a youth leader and a member of North Beds young farmers for which at some time he was also chairman, secretary and treasurer.

He met Hazel through the youth club and dancing at Irchester. Ralph, a keen dancer went to Bedford school of dancing for 2 years to learn modern dancing and he used to go to many dances with his sister Hazel. The local policeman took him dancing to the Meltis sweet factory in Bedford (no

longer there) and also to Cardington RAF Station ballroom, where did you

find the time Ralph! Turvey village hall also had dancing lessons so Ralph came with his mum and some of the ladies from Newton Blossomville. Despite being a good dancer Ralph was no good at music, all three children had piano lessons, but after grade 1 Ralph was told he was no good so he packed it up. Also he and his brother had to make up the numbers in the local church choir but were told to mime as they could not sing! Ralph and his brother were members of the St Neots cycling club and would regularly ride to St Neots with their uncle. He says they had a good youth living in a village and as Ralph says they did lots.

He married Hazel in 1965, and they started married life in Brookside cottage in the high street, when Andrew came along in November 1969 Hazel gave up work to look after the family. Hazel ran the Sunday School for the Rev. Butler but when Peter Jefferies came along Sunday School sadly ended. About this time Ralph’s boss emigrated to South Africa and the Crown Farm Tenant emigrated to Australia. This left Colonel Hanbury to take the farms in hand again and a management company from Lincolnshire took over. Ralph was asked to move to Lodge Farm to take over as foreman. After three years the manager left and Ralph applied for the job and worked one year on trial after which in 1974 the Colonel gave him the managers job and Hazel became farm secretary. Meanwhile Lesley had been born in 1971 and Sarah came along in 1976. Ralph became a member of Moulsoe and District Farming Club where he was also secretary and treasurer In the early years as farm manger he attended courses in Man management, and also stock and farm management at local colleges. All three children went to the local schools and all three went to University, Andrew also did his masters.

Ralph retired in 1999 and a year before he retired he and Hazel moved to Carlton Road into a cottage they had purchased ten years earlier and had done up in their spare time. They enjoyed their retirement and while Hazel was still well they went on lots of holidays including going to Canada and Australia. They started attending All Saints more often and all three children were baptised here and both girls married here and now of course the grandchildren have also been baptised here. Ralph’s hobbies now include walking, reading, woodwork, tending an allotment and visiting National Trust Properties. He says he did not start reading novels until he retired and now there is no stopping him, the house is full of books.

This story of Rose was sent to me many years ago from a great friend, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, Cindy

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being. She said "Hi handsome. My name is Rose, I’m eighty seven years old. Can I give you a hug?" I laughed and enthusiastically responded. "Of course you may" and she gave me a giant squeeze. "Why are you in college at such a young innocent age?" I asked. She jokingly replied, "I’m here to meet a rich husband, get married and have a couple of kids" "No seriously" I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age. " I always dreamed of having a college education and now I’m getting one" she told me. After class we waked to the Student Union building and shared a chocolate milk shake. We became instant friends and every day we would leave class together and talk non stop. I was mesmerised listening to the "time machine" as she share her wisdom and experience with me. Over the course of the year Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and revelled in the attention bestowed upon her by the other students.

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I’ll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her speech she dropped her 3 x 5 cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and said " I’m sorry I’m so jittery, I gave up beer for Lent and this whisky is killing me! I’ll never get my speech back in order so let me tell you what I know." As we laughed she cleared her throat and began "We do not stop playing because we are old, we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, achieving success, having a laugh, and finding humour every day. You’ve got to have a dream, when you lose your dream you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don’t even know it. There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are 19 years old and lie in bed for a year and don’t do one productive thing you will turn 20 and if I am 87 years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn 88. Anybody can grow older, that doesn’t take any ability or talent. The idea is to grow up by always finding the appropriate change, have no regrets. The elderly usually don’t have regrets for what we did but rather for the things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets. Rose concluded her speech by singing "the Rose", she challenged each one of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the years end Rose finished her college degree. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over 2,000 college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that its never to late to be all you can possibly be.

These words have been passed along in living memory of Rose. Remember growing older is mandatory, growing up is optional. We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give. God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God brings you to it, he will bring you through it.

Good friends are like stars, you don’t always see them, but you know they are always there.

John Wesley said about the moment of his conversion that he "felt his heart had been strangely moved". Could this shortly be the fate of the good parishioners of Turvey – but in a much more menacing way?

On page 2 of this magazine we announce the visit to All Saints Turvey on 7th June of a group of geologists from the National Geologists’ Association to, they say, "examine (with eye and hand-lens only) the external walls of the church". However, I can now report that the motive for the visit may be far more sinister.

During a recent interview (conducted in the utmost secrecy), one of the party, the eminent Franco-German Vulcanologist, Professor St-André S. Volte, explained: "Since the damage caused to Turvey Abbey by the earth tremor some two years ago and the further quake last month, a number of us at the Association have been concerned that these could be precursors to a more violent seismic upheaval. Our own research suggests that the Northamptonshire tectonic fault may well be extending itself south from Newport Pagnell along the valley of the Ouse and could shortly cross the County Boundary into Bedfordshire around Turvey Bridge".

A number of Turvey businesses and organisations have already been discussing ‘appropriate measures’, should this prognosis prove correct. It is rumoured that both The Three Fishes and The Three Cranes are planning to have their beer delivered in rubberised barrels to better preserve the contents from seismic shift. Meanwhile, the Village Hall Committee is said to be planning to strengthen the Hall’s foundations with reinforced concrete pilings, with TATS considering the installation of a floating stage, supported on elastic ropes and equipped with rubber-buffered footlights.

At Station End, an earthquake-proof shelter is understood to be at the early design stage, while at Turvey House, it is thought that the existing wine-cellar is to be converted for the same purpose. An informant told me: "It is the most suitable room in the circumstances, as it will ensure that the inhabitants are protected from the biggest killer in a post-earthquake situation – namely thirst". Apparently special provision is being made in the shelter to house a flock of hens, a DVD collection of Arsenal’s finest moments and two Lurcher dogs, to provide food, entertainment and protection against any would-be looters.

Even Turvey Luncheon Club has been involved in emergency planning. In case the earthquake develops into a full-scale volcanic eruption, three members of its cooking staff have been despatched to a Spanish volcanic island to learn how tasty meals can be created, should gas and electricity supplies be severed by the upheaval. Our picture shows them preparing a sumptuous barbecue over the heat from igneous rocks, less than a metre below the surface. Note particularly the delicious silver fish on the top right of the griddle – a variety known in Spain as "pescado primero de abril".

Report by Prof. Oilla*, Freelance Local Phenomena Reporter.

(* Editor’s Note: French surname, pronounced "Waller", as in the English surname derived from it.)