August - Parish News
ST ANDREW'S CHURCH WOODSIDE
Services for August
6th 10.00 Family Service & Baptism
11.00 Informal Communion
13th No Communion at 8am
9.15 Family Service at East Hyde
10.30 Morning Praise & ZJB
20th 10.30 Holy Communion & ZJB
27th No Service at St. Andrews
We are invited to join the Church family
of Holy Trinity East Hyde at 9.15
(Holy Communion)
Midweek Services in August
Wednesdays
2nd 10.30 Pram Service
16th 10.30 Pram Service
30th 10.30 Pram Service
30th 2.30 Woodside Home Service
Thursdays
10.30am Holy Communion
REPORT FROM BURMA
What is it that made 7 young people from a
Bedfordshire Upper School leave their home comforts to adopt
the way of life of some refugees from Burma in the privations
of a refugee camp?
On June 24th the group left UK with two leaders, and entered
a camp wading across paddy fields in the heat of a Monsoon
day two days later. There is a High School of some 150
students, 60 of whom board on site either because they are
orphaned or because they are separated from their parents in
Burma or they live in another camp. The UK group lived with
the boarders, on hard bamboo floors with only basic
facilities.
At 5 in the morning they get up to do their chores in groups.
Some to carry water from a well 1/4 mile down the valley,
others to boil it for drinking water, others to collect wood
or vegetables from the forest, others to cook the meal of
rice and yellow bean soup, which is their diet for their two
meals a day. Breakfast at 7.15, then wash to be ready for the
school day, which began at 8.15.
When we arrived there was only one textbook for each class,
which the teacher used, so much of the learning had to be by
repetition. The UK group had raised some £4500 for the
schools, and immediately books were photocopied in the nearby
town so that each pupil could have a book. We also
supplemented their food while we were there, bought some
sports equipment a new cooking pot and a new T-shirt for each
pupil.
The English group may have been motivated to do all this out
of concern for the plight of some refugee young people, but
this was quickly replaced by friendships, the ability to see
them not as people of need but people who should be given a
dignity above their impoverished situation. Their education
lagged so far behind our's, yet each spoke 3 languages,
including English (because all their text books are in
English!).
The group took lessons, including learning about another
culture, art, drama, economics, and design technology - all
entirely new to their curriculum. Wednesday - Friday in week
1 the group shared in cross cultural lessons in the High
School. On the Saturday there were options of art, drama and
puppetry. On the Sunday some of the group gave public
greetings in the camp Baptist Church. On the Monday -
Thursday the group met with a new group of post High School
Students improving their education to bring them nearer
University entrance. Options included Drama, Economics,
Design, Art and English reading. The Karenni Students taught
our group something of their culture, language and politics.
On the Friday they began the long trek home, across river and
Paddy much swelled by 3 days of Monsoon rains.
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Here are a few quotes from the English students as they came
back to a world of Big Macs and civilised toilets...
The life out there is exciting and fresh. I loved
the people I met and they way they lived their lives.
Everything out there is so simple. You simply live with what
you've got and smile, there's nothing else to it!
Suzie Bolster(17)
Lots of people within the school gave me an address to write
to them with, and many have my address. I hope this will be
enough to keep them smiling while I am not there. Before the
trip I knew nothing of the Karenni people; now I know enough
to make a difference. I feel that I should have spent more
time over my good byes, but it was long enough for one of the
boys to give me his only photo of himself taken before he
became a Refugee. This proved to me that I had definitely
made friends with my group.
David Cousins (17)
I can definitely say that this has changed my life, and I
will do my best to think of these people who said to me
"We have no future, you do, and you will be very
successful"
Chris Cooper (18)
I think that the most important lesson I have gained out of
the trip is that the most important thing in life is not
money, or maybe not even love. The thing that we have that
would be of most value to the Karenni is freedom. The freedom
to exist where you choose to is not a liberty they have. We
can express our views on any subject. These people cannot. It
was hard to say goodbye to the people in the camp, especially
the boys in my boarder house. Although the stay was very
short, it is easy for me to consider them my Karenni family.
One of the boys, Na-Tha-Leh, even became known as my
"big brother".
Clint Ghent (18)
About four in six of the students play guitar. In their
social time, they often sing and play. I thought it was
brilliant. It really made me think just how lazy I am. For
me, when I go home, or out with my friends, I just turn on
the stereo. We wouldn't think of playing guitar, or singing
in the way that they do. It was really enlightening to see.
All the students get on really well with each other and
unlike England, you never see or hear of fighting.
Simon Bowles (17)
I have never truly understood what an opportunity education
is and how much freedom my western upbringing and lifestyle
has afforded me, but to see the attitude and dedication of
the high school students has made me realise how privileged
my thirteen years in education have been. I saw how they
treasured the preciousness of every opportunity that was
offered to them, and how much they wanted to develop and
improve their situation, and I have so much to learn from
their example.
Emma Champkins (19)
I learned so much from the students; they taught me far more
than they think,
not just about the Karenni, but the experience also helped me
to find out
new things about myself and my future.
Marie Ashpool (17)
Children waving - from the camp.
WI
JUNE MEETING
Great! we've got rid of her at last! I am
joking Kay, you did a marvellous job for the past four years,
thank you. A rest well earned as is Rita's as Hon. Sec. Thank
you also.
In the hot seat now is Sheila Coleman, Madame President, with
Sallie Stonestreet Hon. Sec. Don't worry girls we are right
behind you. Kay attended the meeting at Wembley. We were
given her impression of events. It is nice to get facts
rather than paper talk or T.V. news. Well done Linda Lee
Potter McIlroy!
Gena Turland spoke to us about Wedding Traditions. She
started in Roman Times, where the trade description act came
into being as fathers whose favourite daughter was to marry
would substitute her with her sister wearing a heavy veil, of
the time, which covered her features. In Norman times the
church brewed ale for the wedding hence the word 'bridale'.
Tudor and Stuart brides had lots of extras on their dresses
as it was the custom to have a memento and these were
snatched off during the ceremony. Oliver Cromwell had banns
called and also started the Register Office.
Charles 2nd had a special licence that could be backdated,
very conveniently in some cases. In wealthy families after
the service the groom would take a grand tour of the world
for two or three years leaving his young bride at home to
become familiar with all things wifely. Victorian days had
very long engagements as the linen had to be sewed by hand,
it required a dozen of every thing so ten years would be
about the length of time. The front sheets of the newspapers
were always wedding news. They had flower girls to distribute
flowers to guests in church. The bride, bridesmaids, mothers
and future mothers-in-law wore veils. The mother, arranged
the wedding and special church music was composed. Ushers
were used for the first time and if not many people were
present, people from outside were ushered in .
Patricia Crick
JULY18TH
W.I MEETINGS
We enjoyed two lovely meetings this month
thanks to Sue Martin. A mystery tour found us in Wolverton
MK, looking around their lovely museum. The museum isn't
complete yet but a visit is time well spent. Sunday 16th
July, which sadly coincided with Caddington's open Garden
day, we visited Giffords Hall in Norfolk. The coffee stop was
an added bonus, as it was Sue Ryder's residence. Buildings on
the property are now a coffee room, restaurant, museum and
gift shop. When we arrived at Giffords Hall we were shown a
video of the vineyards and were treated to a wine tasting. A
very happy group then had lunch, before having a choice of a
tractor ride around the vineyards, walking among the roses
and sweet peas, or talking to the goats, pigs, special
chickens and geese. The sweet peas are grown for a very well
known seed producer, who chooses the favourite 'numbers' to
be 'grown on' in New Zealand for the seed. These are then
given a name and offered for sale to the public. What I
hav'nt mentioned was a goat in motion climbing up a tree! No,
it wasn't the wine and I should have a photo to prove it!
Long Melford village was our final stop: I couldn't believe a
village could boast such a beautiful Norman church, it took
my breath away.
The Spring issue of the Caddingtonian printed two pages of
in-depth information on the W.I. and we thank the writers
both very much for their dedication.
It was with a heavy heart that the last group walk with the
Whipsnade W.I took place on the 19th. They have had to
disband through lack of support.
Our speaker on stained glass, Mr W Deacon, was certainly deep
into his subject. We went back to the Puritans who frowned
upon it, and nearly stopped the process, but the Victorians
rekindled the fashion and it is still going strong today.
Pilkington devised a method to get a blemish-free sheet of
glass, and we were shown how easy it is to cut glass. Huh!
Selfridges again!! Then came the lead, which holds all the
pieces together and makes it look so easy.
Lastly, we send our very best wishes for speedy recoveries to
E Smith, J Tyler and M Fry. We are keeping your seats warm
ladies!
Next meetings:
Aug 15 Aromotherapy/Reflexology
Sept 19 Birthday meeting
Oct !7 Royal ladies of Bedfordshire
We meet on the 3rd Tuesday in the month 7.30-10pm at
Collings-Wells V.C Memorial Hall.
You can be sure of a warm welcome.
Patricia Crick
SLIP END SOCIAL CLUB
MEMBERS (ADULTS ONLY) SPRING WEEKEND BREAK 2001
Would you like to come to Ryde on the
Isle of Wight, 4-7th May 2001 for a lovely weekend away
staying at Harcourt Sands? Coach and ferry to and from the
island is included, evening entertainment, lots of facilities
and activities during the day, all for £119.00?
If the answer is YES, then please pop into Slip End Social
Club and put your name down on the list placed on the notice
board, further details are also there.
If you are not a member of our village club, but would like
to enjoy our outings, cheap drinks, free entertainment, a
pool table, darts, dominoes and card games then please join
us. We also have a Golf Society plus football and cricket
teams for the energetic. Membership for our family club is
£1.00 joining fee and then £2.00 annually from 1st January
each year, OAP's £1.00, everybody, including children are
welcome.
Kevin, the Steward and Lainey look forward to meeting you.
THE HAREFIELD JOG
17th September I will be taking part in the Harefield
Hospital Healthy Millennium Heart Experience- Jog 2000.
Otherwise known as the Harefield Jog. This will be the
fourteenth successive year I have taken part in this event
since my Heart Transplant in 1987. The event achieves two
goals, firstly raises essential money (last year £24,630)
for vital equipment and secondly raises awareness of the
great success of transplant surgery in Britain, an aspect of
the National Health Service we can be very proud of.
The second goal hopefully also encourages people to sign up
to the National Donor Register, as currently over 6,000
people are waiting transplants of one kind or another. Sadly,
there will not be enough donors and a fair number of these
will not have a second go at life as I have.
DO NOT BE PUT OFF BY THE WORD JOG.
I am getting slower and
slower
to the point I can probably walk faster than I can jog. Many
participants will be walking, and there are two routes which
you can circuit as many times as you like, a one mile route
and a three and a half mile route.
Anyone wanting to join in can contact me on 01 582 422578 or
the jog secretary
on 01 895 825260. Sponsors are of course always most welcome.
Chris Hannah
SLIP END
LOWER SCHOOL - ART PROJECT
Last term it was decided that the school should embark on an
art project to celebrate the millennium. After much
discussion it was decided that a textile wall hanging would
be made in which every child in the school would contribute
to. The theme was the environment around the school and the
work was to be carried out in the children's scheduled art
lessons.
A target time to finish the work was set for the week before
the end of term. It was known that the target was tough, but
not impossible so the project was started immediately the
children returned to school after their Easter break.
However, before anyone could begin, I had to consider how we
could piece every child's work together to make one complete
hanging. After discussing it with my colleagues it was
decided that every child would work on their own square of
material and these would all somehow be attached to a large
sheet of calico. I then had the job of working out the
overall size of the wall hanging and how much space to
allocate to each child. Each year group took on a different
aspect of the theme and also used a different technique of
working with textiles. Using a variety of materials the
Nursery cut out and stuck mini beasts to their squares. The
Year One children painted flowers onto their squares using
textile paint, and then finished their work by stitching
centres on the flowers. In Year Two the children looked at
leaves and trees. They wove their designs first with wool and
then with material. They embellished their work with braid,
ribbon and sequins. The Year Three children studied houses in
the village.
They made a printing tile and used this to print onto their
squares. They then embroidered around the outline of their
work. In Year Four the children looked at other features of
the village and worked their design in applique. All the
children made a study of their aspect of the environment and
designed their individual ideas on paper before moving onto
the textile work. As the worked progressed I became
increasingly worried about how the children's work could be
attached to the calico. I knew that sewing it on would take
too long. Then one of my parents, Mrs Goodaker, came to the
rescue with tins of spray glue used in the upholstery
business. All that remained for me to do was to plan out
where each piece of work would go and buy the wood on which
the calico would hang. Last week with all the work gathered
in and with another of my parents, Mrs Bianchi, helping me, I
put the wall hanging together. We had spread the calico out
on the floor of our music room and had to keep bending and
kneeling to stick on the individual squares. In spite of
aching limbs and sore knees Mrs Bianchi returned to school
the next day to finish the job!
The result of all this effort is a spectacular hanging of
which the children can feel justly proud and I would like to
congratulate them and my colleagues on a super job. I would
also like to thank Mr and Mrs Goodaker for the advice they
gave and the materials they donated, Mr Stanbridge for
preparing the wall to hang our masterpiece, all the parents
who ironed and cut the material strips, and last but not
least, Mrs Bianchi, without whose help I could not have
managed. I expect the wall hanging to be on show for some
months
and I hope many of you will have the opportunity to view our
work yourselves.
Margaret Gordon (Art Co-ordinator)
SLIP
END LOWER SCHOOL
By the time the parish news is ready for
the August distribution, the end of another school year will
have been reached.
This term the Nursery children have visited a butterfly &
bug farm near Bedford, Years R, 1 and 2, the National gallery
and Years 3 & 4 the Millennium Dome. All had thoroughly
enjoyable educational outings. Our original Sports Day had to
be cancelled because of bad weather but everything went
really well on 17th July for
the 3rd attempt. The Governors Annual meeting with the
parents took place on Thursday 6th July and we thank our
'loyal 3 supporters' for their attendance. Perhaps those who
stayed at home had been given prior warning that there was to
be a rainstorm of epic proportions that evening!
We say goodbye to Mrs. Lynne Russell on the last day of term
and will be welcoming our new Headteacher, Mrs. M Johnson, in
September.
Janet Buttery, Chair of Governors
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| Some of the Fancy Dress entries: Nursery entrants - Aren't they good? |
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| Sebastian and Mrs Maggie Turner | Alison | Years 3 & 4 with Mrs Lynne
Russell - Watch out Bart! |
Thankyou for helping us
raise £1,416.92
Firstly the PTA would like to say a huge big thank you to
everybody that supported this years Summer Fair. Without the
help and support of you all it would not have been the
success that it was. A special thank you goes out to all
those people who helped set up the event and kindly manned
stalls on the day.
I hope you all agree that despite the English weather a good
day was had by everyone.
Since March of this year the PTA have provided the
school with a staggering £2687.81.Thank you all so much.
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