Box Village website - Box Village, Gloucestershire

Box News
THE NEWSLETTER OF BOX VILLAGE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE - FREE TO ALL RESIDENTS
Box Village website - www.box-village.com
Choice Blossoms from the Summer Bouquet
The Future of Box Wood
- see page 2
The latest news on our mission to
preserve Box Wood for the
unrestricted use of Box villagers and
the community at large
issue 105, August 2015
BBC RADIO ‘VILLAGE OF THE WEEK’
Out of the blue one morning, an email heralded a visit to
Box from BBC Radio Gloucestershire, which runs a series of
programmes featuring their “Village of the Week”. The
invitation came in via the Village Hall email, and Jane, as
Booking Secretary, set the ball rolling. Because the feature
was to be broadcast in only a few days time (not much notice!),
she had to move fast, and quickly rang around villagers
who might be willing to be interviewed about life in Box.
A fond farewell - see page 6
- to Alison Wilkinson from her family,
and echoed, we are certain, by everyone
in Box who knew her and remember the
central part she played in village life
Open Gardens needs You! - see page 3
Open Gardens is a red-letter day in
the Box village calendar. The
committee needs volunteers to
ensure the success of the next event
Looney Toons
- see page 17
Another disturbing insight into
the secret life of a petrolhead.
(Can’t this man be silenced? - Ed)
New Book Club proposed
- see page 5
Most of us enjoy getting our
heads into a good book, but
even more enjoyment can be had
by sharing our impressions . .
Box Bar (formerly ‘The Vigil’)
- see page 15
New title, same old hospitality!
Meet with your friends and
neighbours at Box Village Hall
on the first Friday of every month
Photo Competition Winner! - see page 16
The winner of our sixth Photo
Competition is . . . you’ll have to
turn to page 16 to find out. Please
have a go in the next competition!
Chris Law, as Chairman of the Village Society, had also
been contacted. Joan Davis, Tiggy Lessner and Diana and
Ray Hayward, a long-time resident, gave interviews, and
Vera Harvey, who was born and brought up in Box, related
a catalogue of her reminiscences of the village over the
years. Carolyn Dolan told listeners about the success of the
popular phone-box library she runs.
Dominic Cotter and his team
patrolled the village, taking
photographs and conducting
interviews on what was, as it turned out, a cloudless
summer’s day. Jane and I were interviewed about the
Village Hall and Box life in general - it wasn’t easy giving
articulate and accurate answers to questions for which we
had had no preparation or advance warning, but the
programme was of course edited before broadcast, and in
the event our responses sounded smooth and fairly fluent!
We were surprised to learn that the programmes would be
aired every day for a whole week - a Box Binge - before
giving way to the next village in the schedule, and we
made sure that everyone in the village would know to tune
in to BBC Radio Gloucestershire to catch the programmes.
There is an inexhaustible supply of villages in our county,
so it will be some time before our turn comes around
again, but watch this space, and make sure you’re in the
next programme!
Jane and John Storey
BOX VILLAGE SOCIETY
All Box residents are Members
Some readers may be becoming a little bored by the
fact that my editorials for the last four issues have
been about the sale of Box Wood and I must confess
that I myself am a little frustrated that the issue has
gone on for so long. But I know that many of you are
interested to learn of the progress on this matter.
When I walk through
the village, attend the
Friday coffee morning,
Box Bar or another
village event I am
nearly always asked
about this topic (I can
talk on other things
but not golf or
bridge!). Steve
Hemmings and I met
Gordon Cole, the chair
of the Novalis Trust
and Jake Lukas, their
chief executive on July
1st to discuss the sale.
The good news is that they are still keen to sell the
wood to us, and to have it managed by the
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust so that it is kept as a
whole, open to the
public and still
available for it to be
used in the nature
lessons of the
school. In order to
make the sale they
have to put a case
to, and get
permission from, the
Charity Commission.
I hope our
discussions have
helped them
prepare the case.
For our part the
committee of the Box Village Society still believe in
the policy of buying the wood, putting it in the
ownership of a charitable company limited by
guarantee, so that it is kept as a whole, can never be
sold again or divided and sold in plots nor can it be
used for purposes which are inimical to public access,
and is open to the public. We hope to settle a
number of issues about the sale which have arisen
between the two parties so that we can begin to go
public with our campaign to raise donations
beginning in early September. We plan to distribute a
leaflet giving full details of the proposal to buy the
wood to be circulated in Box and households in the
surrounding area. Meanwhile while it is summer and
the weather has been relatively dry I urge you to
explore and enjoy the wood so that you appreciate
the amenity on our doorstep.
Chris Law, Chairman, Box Village Society.
BOX OPEN GARDENS 2016 – HELPERS WANTED
A working group has been set up to put together a
great day next 12th June. We have loads of
interesting gardens to open and will be making a final
list in due course. Open Gardens is a major fundraiser
for charity and for the Village Hall. This time around
we want to involve as many people as possible so
that it is even more of a village event. To that end we
are looking for helpers. In advance of the day you are
welcome to contribute ideas, on the day there will be
all sorts of extremely unexciting ways to help.
Please discuss any ideas with members of the working
group.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
AUGUST
16th: Box Gardening Club Visit (bring your own
picnic) to Grey Roofs 12.00 noon
29th: Box News Summer Funraiser, Music and
Barbeque Box Village Hall 4.00pm
SEPTEMBER
4th: Box Bar BVH 6.30pm
6th: Box Gardening Club Produce Show BVH
Exhibits 8.30-10.00am Show 3.00pm
a Box garden Then (2008) . .
10th: Box Art Group BVH Term starts
14th: Box Players AGM and read through 'Dick
Whittington' BVH 7.30pm
15th: Box Gardening Club BVH 7.30pm 'Growing
Flowers for Cutting' Bill Howe
17th: Box Art Group AGM, BVH
20th: St Barnabas Church Harvest Festival 9am
20th: Harvest Supper and Sale of Donations BVH
4.00pm
Those responsible for the various aspects of the
project are :Garden owners - Mark Rogers, on-the-day event
management - Chris Ames
Catering organisation – Anne Mustarde, additional
activities - Roger Dakin
Marketing team - John and Jane Storey, Tony
Hadfield, Pauline Temple
Administration - Ivy Witts, finance – Mark Robinson
Working group members - Vagn and Veronika
Madsen, Mary Morris, Lynda Brown
22nd: Box WI Centenary Lunch and Sing-Along
with David Homer
29th: Box Players BVH 7.30pm Auditions for the
pantomime
30th: Box Players BVH 7.30pm Auditions for the
pantomime
OCTOBER
2nd: Box Bar BVH 6.30pm
6th-18th: Box Art Group BVH Annual Exhibition
and Now (2015)
20th: Box Gardening Club BVH 7.30pm 'Plants
and Borders' Timothy Walker
27th: Box WI BVH 10.30am Talk by a Chiropractor
NOVEMBER
6th: Box Bar BVH 6.30pm
17th: Box Gardening Club 'Mistletoe' Michael
Jones BVH 7.30pm
21st: Air in G “Gypsy Dreamers” BVH 7.30pm
24th: Box WI AGM BVH 10.30am
DECEMBER
4th: Box Bar BVH 6.30pm
5th: Box Gardening Club BVH Xmas Party 7.30pm
Functions with which we need assistance on the day
include (but are not limited to) erection of signage,
manning entry points/selling tickets, assisting with
parking, administrative runners, serving teas, washingup, directing visitors, helping garden owners.
If you are available to help with any of the above on
the day please let us know. Ivy Witts is probably the
most reliable person to inform. We will keep you
updated as the plans develop. Thank you.
Mark Rogers
BOX NEWS - WINTER EDITION
Our Winter edition should appear during
December so if you have material you would
like included, please give it to Jacquie Hanks or
Brendan Clements by Sunday 15th November
3
We had an informative visit from the police recently and
any information useful to villagers can be distributed during
a coffee morning. So come along to the village hall
between 10.30 and 11.30 on a Friday morning to enjoy a
coffee and a chat.
BOX FRIDAY MORNING COFFEE
The Friday morning coffee mornings are still proving
popular especially on a recent wet Friday in July when for
30 people the call of the gardening gave way to the
prospect of a warm coffee and a chance to get up to date
with village gossip!
Daphne Edwards and the Coffee Team
So we will continue to provide this facility in the same welltried format. It is also an occasion when one can say
goodbye to people moving from the village to a new home
elsewhere or to say a last farewell and to remember those
who have gone to the great coffee morning in the sky.
INDEPENDENT ESTATE AGENTS
LETTINGS, AUCTIONEERS & VALUERS
An established local family firm
supported by a friendly loyal team
who all live locally, specialising in
the sale of traditional country
properties throughout the
Cotswolds and the Severn Vale
SALE!
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Stroud • Minchinhampton • Painswick • Mayfair
01453 755552 01453 886334
01452 814655 0870 112 7099
www.murraysestateagents.co.uk
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VILLAGE HALL
Things are happening at the Hall!
You will have noticed the new cattle grid at the exit to
the car park. The old one had crumbling foundations
and cracks in the metal grid. So, at enormous expense,
we have had to
replace it.
The other change
is to the boiler.
We are replacing
that too in
August. The new
one will be
positioned in the
loft with
appropriate
controls wall mounted in the kitchen or main hall. This
has been necessary as the old boiler continued to give
trouble and was getting more unreliable. The new one
should be more efficient and economical we hope!
AN ALTERNATIVE
BOX BOOK CLUB
Ian Witts and myself
thought that another
book club might be a
welcome addition to
village activities during
the winter months. If you
feel the same way and
would like to register your
interest please contact
either of us in person or
by e-mail/telephone. We
would also welcome
suggestions regarding
format, days/times,
venue etc.
Beris Hanks 836287
Finally you will see a freshness about the Hall when you
next enter as Steve Hemmings, assisted by John Storey,
has filled in all the holes in the walls and repainted
them. The floor has also been resurfaced. In fact it’s so
bright in there now I recommend sunglasses on entry!!
All this expensive work has come at a time when the
revenue from the hall has fallen. Can I ask everyone in
the Village to promote the use of the Hall whenever the
opportunity arises please? The more we can hire the
Hall the less likelihood there will be for price rises to
current users!
Chris Ames, Chairman
It’s worth pointing out that our Village Hall makes a very
attractive venue - a local wedding reception (see p. 13)
is just one example of villagers making good use of its
excellent facilities - Ed.
HIRE OUR VILLAGE HALL
Box Village Hall is available for hire, both to residents
of Box and those who live elsewhere. The Hall is a
spacious, light and well-equipped venue, ideally
suited to parties, receptions, club meetings,
anniversaries, dance functions and concerts. There is
a fully-equipped kitchen, folding tables and chairs, a
PA system and Loop installation for those with hearing
aids.
Seating capacity when
using our tables and
chairs is 80 persons,
maximum capacity in
accordance with fire
regulations is 100.
Let’s hear from YOU!
The Hall is available for
Contributions to Box News are welcome from
rental at attractive rates:
anyone connected with Box, past or present. Just
Box Residents: £6.00
send your copy in by email to the Features Editor
per hour
Jacquie Hanks ([email protected]).
Non-residents: £12.00
We can accept handwritten or typed pieces too,
per hour, or £16 per
however you prefer to work we will be able to
hour on Saturdays
handle it! Naturally, the Editor reserves the right
All Business Users
to reject or shorten contributions where he
(anyone who makes a
considers they may be too long or otherwise
charge for their services, whether resident in Box or
unsuitable.
not): £12.00 per hour, or £16 per hour on Saturdays.
Please contact Jane Storey on 836649 or email
Please DO send in your pictures - we would like
[email protected] for enquiries or to
Box News to be as lively and colourful as possible!
5 make your booking.
ALISON WILKINSON
12th December 1925 - 30th May 2015
Alison moved to Box in 1987 with
Johnny, starting retirement in a part of
the world she was familiar with. She had
gone to school in Cheltenham and had
spent her wedding night at the
Amberley Inn. She lived longer in Box
than any other location in her long
and varied life. She loved the village
life, its people and the beauty of its
surrounding countryside. It was a far cry
from where Alison was born in Kobe in
1925, where her Father, Hugh Malcolm,
was General Manager of Shell. The
sights and sounds of Japan and the
vivid memories of childhood there
remained with her all her life.
Travelling to and from Japan by sea and
rail took anything from three to five
weeks. Sea travel across the Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans was on the famous
P&O and other liners of the time. Rail
travel was across Canada or America and Russia. On one
journey coming home on leave from Japan the family were
involved in a very bad accident in Moscow when a drunken
taxi driver crashed into a droshky carrying Alison's Father
and seriously injured him. This involved staying in Russia for
some weeks for medical treatment.
At that time, many families serving overseas had to leave
the children in the UK for their education and often they
did not see each other for several years. Alison and her
elder sister Deirdre were left behind in England and went
to Cheltenham Ladies College spending many of their
holidays with relatives living in Gloucestershire.
During the Second World War, Alison joined the WRNS and
served in the Japanese Section at Bletchley Park where
absolute secrecy had to be observed by the hundreds of
service men and women and civilians working there. It was
a credit to all that this secrecy was kept for many years
after the war and Alison was very proud of this fact.
By now a Petty Officer Wren, Alison was posted to HMS
Royal Arthur firstly in Skegness and secondly at Corsham
near Bath. It was there that she and Johnny, a mere Acting
Leading Airman, acted in a play together (While The Sun
Shines) and in several subsequent productions. But it was
another few years before they got married.
On being demobilised at the end of the war, Alison started
her professional acting career by going to RADA in London
where she won both acclaim and a prestigious prize. After
the completion of her course, Alison joined the Perth
Repertory Company in Scotland where she stayed for two
years. This involved acting in a new play every week with a
Pantomime at Christmas and a theatre tour of Scotland and
the Islands in the summer. She worked with a number of
colleagues such as Donald Pleasance, Patrick McGoohan,
Edward Woodward and Ronnie Barker, who later became
stage or TV stars.
After Perth, Alison was invited to join the ARTS Theatre in
London and was in a
successful production
of a play which was
going to move to a West
End theatre. At the last
moment the leading
man, Nigel Patrick, got a
film contract in
Hollywood and walked
out leaving the
production high and dry.
Alison then became
Co-Founding Director of a newly
formed Mime Theatre Company which
toured England and Wales for several
months, living on a shoestring for most
of the time.
In 1949 Alison and Johnny (who was on
leave from Nigeria) re-met and they
were married in 1951. Alison was a very
good actress and would have
undoubtedly become one of the
leading actresses of her profession, but
she gave it all up and chose to support
Johnny and the family.
They lived in Nigeria for eight years in
Kaduna and Lagos where Johnny was
involved in the creation of the Nigerian
Broadcasting Service. In 1959 Johnny
joined the BBC where he worked for 27
years in the BBC African Service, the
World Service, as The Secretary of the
BBC and finally as Director of Public
Affairs. All this time, in addition to
bringing up the family, she supported
Johnny, attending BBC public functions
involving BBC Staff, Board of Management and Board of
Governors events. She was loved and respected by both
her family and all who knew her in the BBC.
Just as she encouraged Johnny in his career at the BBC so
too did she encourage and support the family. When they
were away at boarding school she wrote long letters full of
news from home. Always interested in what they were
learning and ready to leap to the barricades when things
were not going so well. Living in Haslemere, Alison was a
huge part of what made home "home". She used her own
experience to encourage the children’s acting at school
and took them to Chichester Theatre to see great actors
like Alastair Sim, Maggie Smith and Alec Guinness. Her
love of writing and reading involved building a huge library
of books; she studied pottery at the Farnham College of
Art, read three or four newspapers every day, and
possessed an impressive knowledge of domestic and
international affairs which she retained until the closing
stages of her life. Even during
family holidays at Helford
Passage in Cornwall it was the
same. Providing meals for the
family and visiting relatives and
friends meant it was no real
holiday for Alison, but she loved
to engage in the conversations
and discussions that
accompanied them. Julian, the
youngest member of the family,
vividly recalls the joy of reading
with Alison and how much she encouraged Julian to use
her imagination. She remembers Alison diligently taking
notes as Julian dictated her story "The Adventures of the
Giant Sea Walrus ....that flew"! Never once did Alison ask
the author about the questionable compatibility of a giant
flabby walrus and flight!
Alison moved to Box and settled into village life retaining a
vivid interest in film, music, theatre, current affairs and
above all, books. Visits to Compass Cottage always
involved conversations on what she had seen, heard, read
and what was happening in the world.
As her children accumulated partners and their six
grandchildren arrived on the scene, her interest and love
for them all embraced the whole family. Even in her final
days her beautiful smile will be a memory that will last
forever. She made the family strong and confident and
"made us who we are".
The Wilkinson Family
6
deaths in the elderly because sadly people can’t get out.
If you feel anyone is at risk then do talk to the fire
brigade. They are always willing to try and help.
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
Some of the advice they offered were things like:
• Don’t shut doors in the house. Allow smoke to get to
the detectors as an early warning sign that there is a
problem. By shutting doors the fire has time to
develop before anyone is aware that the house is on fire.
• Make an escape plan, particularly with children.
Have a practice with them.
• Make sure all corridors and doorways are clear so
you can get out easily
• If you can’t get out, then get everyone into one
room.
• Make sure you have a phone with you
• Shout FIRE from the windows, not HELP
With budget cutbacks all round the Neighbourhood
Watch has been asked to take on some Fire Prevention
work within our communities alongside the Police.
I attended a meeting at Dursley Fire Station where we
were given talks on both Fire and Crime Prevention. We
had our own Crime Prevention talk a few weeks ago at a
Friday Coffee morning which was well attended, so I
won’t go into that in detail. However if you would like
our local PCSO Tanya White, based in Stroud, to come
and give you a free Crime Prevention House Check then
do contact her on 101.
The Fire Brigade in Gloucestershire have launched a
new initiative focusing on Fire Prevention rather than
Response. It costs a lot less to prevent fires rather than
have to respond to a house fire with all the subsequent
disruption and distress caused by having a fire in your
home.
They also have a range of other devices which they
supply for free to help people with memory problems,
such as a voice prompt to remind people to turn off
cookers, a GPS device to wear so people can be found
if they get lost, and reminders not to go out.
They have produced a brochure with lots of advice in it.
I have ordered a dozen copies so if anyone would like
one, let me know. If you want to organise a free safety
check then please either let me know and maybe we
can organise a day when the Fire Brigade can come to
Box, or contact them direct on 0800 180 4140.
They are very keen to come out to your premises and to
give your home a thorough fire safety check for free.
They will check all the smoke detectors, and if necessary
fit new ones again for free, and will give you a great
deal of advice which could be particularly useful if you
have young children or elderly relatives.
Pauline Temple
Some of the typical ways fires start are:
• Toasters placed under kitchen cabinets
• Smoking (obviously)
• Cheap lights e.g. Christmas lights
• Candles
• Heaters left on
ROBERT TIMMS OF MINCHINHAMPTON
For MOTs and all your vehicle repairs
“same great service, great value, great workmanship”
Clutter and hoarding. This is often the cause of fire
Local staff and professional, friendly service
We pride ourselves on our honesty and reliability
BOX NEWS ADVERTISING
•
•
•
•
Box News in its current
form only exists because
we have such loyal and
wonderful advertisers who
continue to support us by
buying advertising space.
So it is with great pleasure
I have to let you know that Lynda Brown has taken
over the advertising sales with all the work that that
involves. She is ably assisted by Barbara and Michael
Nash who carry out all the onerous paperwork. So a
big thank you to you all from me for volunteering to
take this on!
Sadly I have to let you know that one of our keenest
supporters, Bin Ends at the Bear has closed for
business. The Bear Hotel is up for sale so they have
had to close the shop. I am sure you would want me
to say a big Thank You to Peter Hanna, the owner,
and all his team - Aaron the Manager, Simon and
David - for all their support for the last 3 years, and
to wish them well in the future. We’ll miss you guys.
Pauline Temple
Discount MOT £39.95
Competitive service prices
Convenient location
Free collection
8.30am - 5.30pm Monday – Friday
8.30 - 1pm Saturday
Hilltop Garage, Cuckoo Row, Minchinhampton,
GL6 9HA
7
Call us for quotes on 01453 889207
MEET OUR ADVERTISERS: Nick Miles
No one comes more local than Nick Miles: a life-long
Stroud Valleys man, he spent his teenage years living in
Box, first in Laburnum Cottage, then Box End Farm which
his father, Phil Miles (of PMPD Builders Ltd) bought at
auction in the mid-1970’s as a barn with around 30 acres,
and subsequently converted into the domestic dwelling it
is today.
Nick remembers Box as it is
now but with a lot fewer cars.
Highlights include Box Wood
(especially sunbathing instead
of revising) and the Halfway
House, then a basic pub with a
grumpy landlord, Fred, who
ran the post office and shop,
and also enlisted his best
friends to help his father bring
in the hay. And that there was
always more snow in Box ...
He followed in his father's
building footsteps, and did a
Degree in Building Surveying, and then a Master’s Degree
in his life-long passion that has become his trademark Conservation of Historic Buildings, including churches. In
1990 he set up his own specialist conservation building
company - the rest, as they say, is history!
Nick now lives in Bisley, but is a staunch supporter of Box
News (he writes a column for his village newsletter, too)
and his affection for Box remains as strong as ever.
"It's always a privilege to work here, helping to conserve
the cottages I grew up amongst. It still feels like home, and
I love coming back and to be able to see a few familiar
faces."
As for looking after our historic cottages, Nick gives this
advice: Look after the simple things first: maintenance roof, chimneys, gutters, etc - anywhere where water can
get in. Beware damp proof companies (his number one
scourge) as they often give incorrect advice. Instead he
recommends seeking advice from informed conservation
organizations like the Society for the Protection of Ancient
Buildings (SPAB), founded by William Morris, which has an
excellent website and technical advice helpline
http://www.spab.org.uk.
His other pet scourge? Anything cement-based - lime has
breathability, cement does not!
Finally, I'd better declare my bias. Thanks to his ad in Box
News, I used Nick Miles when I first moved into Box. I
couldn't have wished for anyone better and my lime
rendering is gorgeous. Thank you, Nick.
Lynda Brown
St. BARNABAS CHURCH
Harvest Service and Supper
Our Traditional Harvest Service will take place at 9am in
Box Church on Sunday 20 September. All welcome. Come
and sing your favourite Harvest hymns! We are encouraging
people to bring both donations of tins (rice etc suitable for
Stroud Food Bank) and also fresh produce - vegetables etc.
Those items suitable for the Food Bank will be taken to
Stroud, and fresh produce will be
auctioned at our late afternoon
Harvest event - see below!
This year the churches of Box,
Minchinhampton and Amberley are
hosting a Harvest Supper
in Box Village Hall on Sunday 20
September at 4pm. We plan to have
a good old-fashioned Harvest with
some Harvest-hymn singing, and
follow this up with an auction of the
fresh produce collected in the morning services, the money
from which will go to charity. We will have a barrel of beer /
cider, and wine to purchase, to accompany a hearty
Ploughman's and Apple Pie. Places will be limited and
ticketed, sold on a first come first served basis, for £5. They
can be obtained from Friday Coffee Morning or the Church
or by phoning the Parish Administrator on Tel 889004
nearer to the event. Anyone welcome. Keep an eye
on Box Church notice board for information!
Helen Bailey (Rector)
PETE THE FISH
1 Wellesley Cottage, Wells Road, Bisley, Stroud, Glos. GL6 7AF
Tel 01452 770855 Mob 07976 383969 Email [email protected]
www.nickmilesbuildingcontractors.co.uk
Pete visits Box on Tuesdays, 10.30 –
11.30 (except after Bank Holidays) at
the Village Hall car park. All fresh
fish, the only frozen items are prawns.
8
GARDENING CLUB
Summer 2015
Lugging cans of water up to our front gate has been a
frequent job for me of late! Normally only the
container plants get a regular drink, but the soil in
places is so hard and dry I’ve had to give up on my
Leave It Alone approach to perennials. The rain this
July seems to have mostly missed Box, or resulted in a
few spits of drizzle! Hopefully writing this will bring on
a much awaited soaking.
We hope the sun smiles, however, on Sunday August
16th, when we are planning to have a Summer Picnic,
courtesy of Anne and Mark Rogers. Members and their
guests will be bringing their picnics, chairs and rugs to
the garden at Greyroofs, from 12.00 noon. At the same
event there will be a Bring-and-Buy stall for members’
home produce. Anything accepted as long as it is
priced. If the weather is impossibly wet, we’ll just stay
in and eat at home!
We had some good speakers in early summer. Jon
Mason, in charge of the Planteria at Highfield Garden
World, Whitminster, gave a lively and informative
presentation in April. Before our eyes he filled pot after
pot with gorgeous peat-based compost (sharp intake
of breath here!), but the results were pretty good. He
also pointed out that most shrubs and climbers in
containers are suffering in pots that are far too small
for their needs. And don’t use those curvy shaped ones
either – you can never get the plant out without a
sledgehammer! He left us with a nice stack of 20%
discount cards for our next visits to Highfield.
The Two Sues – Sue Smith and Sue Dodd of
Gloucestershire Butterfly Conservation came back to
see us in May, showing us pictures of a remarkable
To those of you who know Dorothy Zalan
I am sorry it has taken me so long to let you have news of
my mother. I was waiting in the vain hope that I could
report back to friends and neighbours in Box that she had
finally settled well in her new home in Hebden Bridge.
However, perhaps because of the enormity of a move at
her age and/or her worsening mental condition, she
remains somewhat anxious and confused.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for
their kindness over the years. I have very fond memories of
coffee mornings, gardening club outings, theatre visits,
pantomimes, Xmas parties, walks over the common etc etc
and of course Mum’s 90th birthday tea dance in the village
hall. I will so miss the opportunity to visit and join in.
Jenny Slaughter (Daughter)
(Further details and address can be obtained from Chris Ames)
Keep in touch with all the happenings in Box: just
send an email to [email protected] and ask
to be added to the village information email list.
And hey presto!! You will know almost everything
that is going on in the village and surrounding area!
(NB if you are already on Chris Ames’s email list,
there’s no need to register on the BVH list).
9
number of rare plants to be found in Gloucestershire if only you knew where to look. They are a most
knowledgeable pair of enthusiasts and well worth
joining on their various guided walks to hidden corners
of the county.
Next up is the Village Produce Show, to be held in the
Hall on Sunday 6th September. Schedules have now
been distributed to members, but all village residents
are eligible to enter. If you would still like a copy
please contact me or our Show Secretary, Liz Hughes
(885478). The Schedule with rules for taking part is also
on the village website, so you can print one for
yourself and have a go! See the link on the website
home page. There are lots of classes for veg, flowers
and flower-arranging, recipes for baking, and a
photography category to get you snapping away.
All entry forms need to be with Joan Davis at Tunnel
House, by Monday 31st August, so they are with the
Show Secretary in time. Joan is collecting these so you
don’t even need to walk as far as Liz’s house at
Hampton Green!
Our summer outing to Somerset unfortunately had to
be cancelled, owing to an unforeseen clash of dates.
Every effort will be made to avoid this happening in
the future!
We start off our evening talks again on September
15th, when Bill Howes will show us how to grow
flowers for cutting. On October 20th, Timothy Walker
returns from Oxford, to discuss particular plants and
their role in the garden border. Always an entertaining
evening with Tim!
Do come along to any of our talks – just £3 per visitor.
We serve coffee/tea from 7.30 pm for an 8 pm start.
We have around 50 members, but are always happy to
welcome more.
Diana Hayward – Chairman.
WELCOME , WILFRED!
Wilfred Wren John Gegg was born on 6th April to
Hannah and James Gegg; a brother for Henry.
A CHOIRBOY REMEMBERS
look of disapproval.
In 1930 I was six years old and a pupil at the St John’s Church
School, Meols. The vicar, the Rev G G Hammond, visited the
school weekly and unbeknown to me I was earmarked as a
potential choirboy. My parents received a visit from the Vicar
and the Choir Master, a lace-curtain twitching event in those
days! Visits from the police, clergy and the doctor roused much
interest.
Behind the choirboys were the men
choristers aged from young to
ancient including ones that prodded
you in the back if you did something
untoward! Their booming voices
singing a different tune to me were
sometimes off putting. Likewise if
you were on the side of the vicar his
ponderous voice seemed close, a
bit like God might sound if you
could imagine God being present.
My parents were suitably impressed and I heard them say that I
would be pleased to become a member of the church choir. I
hadn’t even been asked whether I was interested or not!
My introduction to the world of a chorister was bewildering to
say the least. There were choir practices, at least one a week in
the evening and services on Sunday morning and evening.
I was dressed in a cassock and surplice with a stiff white collar
and bow tie. The cassock covered the whole of me! It was
purple in colour and the surplice was a starched white cotton
garment, like a cloak with loose arms, very angelic!
In addition to all this I had to learn the procedures of church
services, when to stand, when to kneel, when to turn to face the
altar. There were prayers to learn and the sung responses, the
tunes of the hymns and psalms to memorise. The psalms were
sung as phrases of differing lengths. These were contained in a
Psalter (a book).
It was an utterly confusing world of the church to a 6-year-old
boy. On top of this we had to be solemn!! No smiling and
certainly no laughing or talking. For a long time some parts of
the service might have been in a foreign language because I did
not understand what I was saying and singing.
Choir practises were held in the vestry, a room off the side of the
church. We sat on chairs in a semi circle and the Choirmaster, Mr
Tipping, played the tunes on a piano. We had to sing them and
memorise the tune and the phrasing especially the Psalms. In a
strange way I got to like the psalms. I didn’t understand their
meaning but it was fun to get to the end of a sentence at the
same time as everyone else! It was a real sense of achievement.
I also got to like the hymns, especially the rousing ones like
‘Onward Christian Soldiers’ and in a quaint way for a young lad I
thought some hymns were beautiful in words and music such as
‘The Day Thou Gravest Lord is Ended’ and ‘Abide With Me’.
I quite liked the bit where we walked into the Church from the
vestry in pairs at a slow pace led by a man carrying a cross. Then
to the chancel, the space between the choir stalls, and up to the
altar rail where we turned left or right into the choir stalls.
Depending on which side you were on, you faced the Vicar, who
was a large man, in his place in the stalls or the choirmaster at
his organ, both equally daunting. The choirmaster had his back
to you but he could see you in his rear-view mirror that was
attached to the organ.
This seemed to accentuate that
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10
The most boring bit was the
sermon, which I understood to
mean what God thought we should
do and not do, and somehow it related to the Bible. Some
sermons lasted 10 minutes, if you were lucky, and others
seemed to go on forever. During the sermon the choirmaster
came down from the organ and sat alongside the choir stalls so
that he could listen to the sermon, but really it was to keep an
eye out for a slumbering choirboy!
The singing bit I enjoyed and the more tuneful and rousing the
better. At the end of service we returned to the vestry in the
same way we came in unless we had a hymn that we sang as we
processed up the centre aisle and then back down the side aisle
to the vestry. We put away our cassocks and surplices and
waited for the choirmaster to say we could leave the church.
Then, off home for the Sunday family meal, a suitable end to the
morning, and back to church for evensong and home again
afterwards ready for school in the morning.
A change from the Sunday services were weddings and
occasionally funerals. I liked the weddings: the bride in her veil,
very mysterious; the mother of the bride having a cry; the bride’s
father giving his daughter away. I thought “How could he do
that?”. We were paid for these occasions but I can’t remember
how much we got.
The church festivals of Easter, Harvest and Christmas were very
joyful times and I loved the hymns and the carols associated
with them. My favourites were ‘The Messiah’ singing the
descants as only a boy treble can, reaching the high notes way
above the rest of the choir and congregation. We were spared
the Good Friday but knew about it. How joyful to greet Jesus on
Easter morning.
My voice started to change at the age of 15 or 16 and I moved
to the men’s part to sing alto. I did not find this easy and I
missed the wonderful tunes I used to sing. I also took part in the
choral life at my Grammar school. At 15 years old my life
changed completely as the Second World War started.
Gordon Pownall
THE TWELVETREE VOICES
renderings of such favourites as “I Got Rhythm” and
“Summertime.” After the interval the choir continued to
demonstrate their versatilty, bringing us up to date with
songs by Paul McCartney and others with plenty of humour
thrown in, getting the audience’s feet tapping.
The second weekend of May saw a musical treat for Box in
the form of two concerts by The Twelvetree Voices, a
chamber choir of mainly London-based singers, formed
recently by Elizabeth Rogers, who was brought up in Box.
On Saturday 9th May they gave an evening
performance of part songs before a full audience
in St Barnabas church. The first half consisted of
settings by Gerald Finzi, a composer who once
lived in Painswick, of seven poems by Robert
Bridges. The choir, evenly divided between
female (soprano and alto) and male (tenor and
bass) voices was well equipped to bring out the
delicate textures and harmonies of the settings
which ranged from moods of quiet introspection
to outbursts of joy. The second half continued the
pastoral theme with traditional songs from all
parts of the UK, several of which gave an
opportunity for soloists to shine, for instance
“My love is like a red, red rose” and the well-known
“Londonderry Air.”
Later this year members of the choir will be performing as
part of the BBC Symphony Chorus and will be appearing at
the Proms. It is to be hoped, however, that their experience
of Box in Springtime will persuade them to pay a return visit.
The choir’s concert in the Village Hall the following
afternoon was a more informal entertainment before
another full house seated round tables and enjoying drinks
and a buffet. It was appropriately entitled “Tea for Two,”
which was also the opening number. This was followed by
a selection of popular songs from the 20s and 30s by
Gershwin, Cole Porter and others including colourful
Proceeds from the concerts went to The Friends of St
Barnabas and to Minipins, Stroud Choral Society Children’s
Choir.
Brian Woosey
11
AIR in G - ‘MAGICAL HISTORY TOUR’
For several years now Box Village Hall has presented two
“Arts in Rural Gloucestershire” (Air in G) performances
each year, more recently taking the form of musical
concerts. Very few have disappointed, but the “Magical
History Tour” in April this year was widely regarded as one
of the very best.
Not only did the Box
audience enjoy it,
but so did the band.
They made us realise
just how lucky we
are in Box to have
such a well
equipped village hall
and so many
volunteers willing to
help attract and
stage all these events.
Here is a portion of the e-mail that their leader, Max Keen,
sent to us shortly after their performance, in which he
asked us to pass on their thanks for the evening. To those
who attended and supported the performance and the
Village Hall, many thanks. For those who didn’t, you missed
a terrific evening. Please support us next time – you won’t
regret it.
An extremely talented five piece band decorated the
Village Hall with Beatles posters, projected images, guitars
and “psychedelic” lighting and invited us to take a ride on
their bus through the 60s, 70s and 80s as they performed
Beatles music brilliantly and reminded us of Beatles stories
that we never knew or had long since forgotten.
It was indeed a magical
evening for those who
attended and, if you missed it,
I really would urge you to look
out for posters of our
forthcoming Autumn 2015 and
Spring 2016 concerts.
EUROPEAN BRONZE MEDALLIST
Six years ago, and with the help of
many Box Village residents, Dorothy
Liviabella was preparing for her first
ever Triathlon in London to raise
money for Help the Hospices. Now
she is European Bronze Medallist in
her age group after competing at
the European Triathlon
Championships in Geneva,
Switzerland (July 12th).
'Earlier in the year I didn't think I
would even be on the starting line
after I overtrained during winter and
picked up a stress related bone
injury which meant I couldn't run for
5 months. I didn't think it would be
possible to get any running form
back in time for the event in July but with my swimming
and biking going really well and with some sound training
advice I managed to get my legs back just in time! It's the
4th time I've been part of the GB Age Group team but
definitely the best result - to get a medal and stand on the
podium after all the hours and hours of training makes it all
worthwhile.'
12
“Just a note on behalf of the band and road crew to say a
big thank you in the way you looked after us yesterday.
What a fantastic stage area. For us - that was the biggest
plus. Nothing was too much trouble. Can you also thank
Andy and John too! Also, pass on our thanks to anybody
else that helped with the often thankless task of preparing
the stage, dressing room area etc. It was an absolute
pleasure to perform our show to you all last night!
What a terrific village hall you have and what an equally
terrific audience too! Please pass on our delight in your
next (rather impressive) newsletter! Many, many thanks.
Hope to see you in the future for another one!
All the very best,
Regards Max”
'I'd recommend the sport to anyone
who likes a bit of a challenge - I'm
aware of a few others in Box who
have recently completed their first
Triathlon and I'd encourage them to
keep it up. It's not only a great way
to keep fit but for me at least, has
been a way of meeting some of the
most inspirational people I
know. The great thing about
Triathlon is that you are ranked
against people within age groups
which means you can still compete
as you get older and like I have
discovered, qualify for the GB Age
Group team'.
It'll be a short rest now and then
back to training for the next event in
September where husband Tony will be on the start line too.
'This winter I'll learn from last year and not overdo it as I'll
be preparing for the 2016 European Championships in
Portugal having automatically qualified as the top GB
athlete in my Age Group in Geneva. The training never
really stops - there are just times when you do less and
times when you do more - but it's all good fun!'
SPRING WEDDING – A FAMILY OCCASION!
Amy Bearpark Pettit
married Tom Coombs in
Holy Trinity Church,
Amberley on 11th April.
Amy had attended
Amberley School from
the age of five years until
she was eleven. In Amy’s
words, it was like “going
home” to get married,
recalling nativity plays,
special services, daily
assemblies and other
activities all part of
primary school life.
Amy and Tom had
expressed a wish for a
simple, country wedding,
with both families
involved in contributing specific skills to add to the homely
feel. Box Village Hall was booked for the reception.
The day before the wedding, both families arrived from far
and near, and together decorated the Village Hall. This
was a really fun time for everyone, and set the tone for the
whole weekend.
The day itself was a
beautiful sunny
spring day. Tom’s
dad drove the
wedding car and
ensured everyone
arrived at the church
on time. The
service itself
involved Tom’s
uncle (a retired
vicar) helping with
the address,
readings read by
the couple’s siblings
and then afterwards,
Tom drove his bride
away from the
church – who needs
a chauffeur when there is a classic car to drive yourself!
The Village Hall was perfect for the reception, with plenty
of room outside for guests to mingle before going into the
main hall for the wedding breakfast. Amy’s dad provided
the disco, and festivities continued through the evening,
ending with various renditions of “Bohemian Rhapsody”.
Tom’s mum made what seemed to be miles of bunting to
decorate inside and outside the hall, and she also made
napkins for all the guests, each one embroidered with their
Amy and Tom spent their honeymoon based in Tewkesbury,
name. Meanwhile,
but
driving around the North Cotswolds in a variety of
Amy’s mum was
classic cars.
busy making the
wedding dress,
bridesmaid
dresses, and ties
and pocket
squares for the
men. The
bridesmaids
painted pots for
table decorations,
and all the flowers were arranged by either Tom’s aunt or
Amy’s mum. Amy and Tom provided table entertainment
in the form of various quizzes, and they had prepared a
treasure trail around Box for the younger guests (although
completed by all ages).
13
A MULTIPLE CELEBRATION FOR
BRIAN AND ANNE
It’s not often that you can celebrate 3
milestones all at the same time, but Brian
Woosey and Anne Sinclaire managed just
that - they invited friends, family and
neighbours to join them at the village hall
to celebrate Brian’s 80th birthday (hip . .),
Anne and Brian’s 25th wedding anniversary
(hip . .) and 20 years living in Box (hooray!).
We all enjoyed a delicious lunch and a drink
or two, and everyone agreed that there must
have been a mistake in their arithmetic!
Photos: Sarah Law, Beris Hanks
14
“YOU’RE BARRED” (only joking . . !)
SAM MIDGLEY
Sam has an
unconditional
offer to study
Law - LLB
(Hons) at
Queen Mary
College,
University of
London
starting this September.
Box Bar has become a well-supported and muchappreciated part of Box life - its popularity and importance
grew with the sad closure of the Halfway House. When the
pub closed, monthly protest gatherings were initially
organised on the common but with the onset of winter
these moved into the Village Hall. Over time, this protest
gathering, formerly known as the Vigil, evolved into a
social occasion to become the Box Bar Night.
Box Bar is now held on the first Friday of every month
except January. Due to popular demand we are
experimenting with extra nights in June and July. If you
haven’t been yet, do come along - it’s a great way to meet
up with villagers and friends. There is beer from Stroud
Brewery, lager, cider, good wine, and a selection of soft
drinks.
Well done Sam! (Just don’t
take us to court . . !)
SEAN DOHERTY
”I've just graduated from a
Masters in medical
engineering from Cardiff
university after 4 years.
Medical engineering is the
use of engineering to help
solve medical problems. I've
found the course very
interesting, in particular the
projects I've had a chance to
do such as designing and
building geared wheelchair
wheels. I plan to continue
with this and am starting a
PhD at UCL next year.”
In addition to the monthly Bar Nights the bar helps to
lubricate the Box Pantomime, Air in G nights and other
social events. All the profits from the bar go towards the
running of our Village Hall. Last year the bar contributed
£1,141.
I can’t talk about the bar without mentioning the bar staff,
without whom there would be no Bar. Thanks to all of you
who have volunteered in the past. If you haven’t done a
stint yet give it a go, it’s good fun and the customers are
not too difficult (things can easily change! Ed). We will be
looking for volunteers from September onwards so please
get in touch if you can spare a few hours on a Friday night.
Andrew Dawes
15
1st
PHOTO COMPETITION
Karen’s overall winner
“My Pet, with caption” was the subject
Thanks again to everyone who entered the photographic
competition. It’s great to see some new people entering
each time! Our theme this time was 'My Pet, with caption'.
We had 13 entrants, a good selection you can see, sorry
we don’t have space to print all your entries!
The winner this month was this great photo from Karen
Bowrey, proving that ‘Dogs do have soles!’ A bottle of
wine is coming your way.
2nd prize goes to Barbara with her wonderful Ozzy
contribution and 3rd prize goes to Alison Edmonston, with
her soggy doggy!
The theme for our next competition is Summer Fun!
Don’t forget, a maximum of 2 entries per person please.
All entries to [email protected] by Monday
21 September.
Pauline Temple
2nd
3rd
This is how the Photo
Competition works:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Open to all residents of Box
and Hampton Green
No professional photographers
or award winning photographs
please!! (to give us all a chance!)
All ages welcome to enter.
Please encourage our young
people to get involved!
Clever, creative even funny
photos will be smiled upon!
Extreme digital editing will be
frowned upon!
Entries limited to 2 photos
per person.
16
The Man In The Garage
Well, I am now half way through the Sprint and Hillclimb
season with five events done and four to go!
There are forty nine registered competitors in the
championship (not all turn up to every event) and your best
six results count towards the awards.
The first weekend was a double header (Sat and Sun) at Ty
Croes race circuit on beautiful Anglesey. My spirit medium
advised me that there was loads of grip to be had on this
very fast circuit so I committed myself to being bold!
Having spun twice at over eighty miles an hour I reviewed
his advice. I discovered religion first and the dry cleaners
second! Still I managed to finish 6th on day one and 3rd
on day two amassing some useful points.
from the grid the engine mountings were ripped asunder
and there was much gnashing and grinding of metal and
teeth and copious Anglo-Saxon invective. Amid the
wailing and chest beating I loaded the car back onto the
trailer and returned to the Shire where matron soothed my
fevered brow and I restored my malt levels to above
average and a peaceful night of slumber followed.
For a Lancashire lad the following weekend saw me on the
wrong side of the hill in Yorkshire at Harewood House
Hillclimb north of Leeds. This is a truly beautiful venue
facing North East overlooking the entire circuit and the
valley beyond. The commentator was a local man so
translators were provided for southerners, and the hundred
and twenty competitors lined up to do battle! The previous
night’s deluge had washed the track clean and grip was
minimal. On one run I crossed the flying finish backwards
and the dry cleaner was back in business! A pleasing 2nd in
class created a happy journey home.
Curborough (Litchfield) in Sept, Shelsley Walsh
(Worcestershire) in September and Prescott Hill Climb in
October remain to be done. There will therefore be much
garage activity in the coming weeks!!!
Rob Toon
Postscript
Not least because he is something of a joker himself, in our last
issue we decided to play an innocent prank on Mr. Toon.
MIRA sprint in the Midlands is shrouded in secrecy. Here
the great and the good of the motor industry test their
latest models to destruction and security is tight. Cars are
searched, and mobile phone cameras are sealed off by the
stewards as you arrive and inspected again as you leave.
Apart from immediate passengers there is a no spectator
policy - good job really as I had major problems with the
front brakes locking up, causing me to disappear from view
on a regular basis in clouds of
burning rubber much to my
consternation and the amusement
of my fellow competitors. It was a
dry and sunny day and a solid
fourth was achieved but it could
have been better.
It took me seven hours to get to
Aintree Race Circuit for the next
round due to the M6 being closed
for a police drugs swoop. By the
time I arrived at my hotel it was
late so a quick supper with just
one pint saw me retire for the
night with dangerously low malt
levels! Next morning I was at the
circuit by 7:00. Practice went very
well on this historic piece of
tarmac where the British Grand
Prix was once held........but lo, it
came to pass that as I starteth
17
Imagining that he would be reading his two very amusing Box
News contributions with the critical eyes of an expert proofreader,
we arranged to have a single copy produced, for his eyes only,
with a deliberate mistake: instead of reading ”The Man In The
Garage” the heading on his article was changed, in his copy only,
to read ”The Man In The Garbage”, and this one-off, customised
copy delivered quietly to his door.
We imagined that he would see the ‘misprint’ and anticipated
apoplectic objections from the careful author; but such is his
characteristic sang-froid that no such objections were forthcoming
- in fact he claims not to have noticed at all, so our joke fell flatter
than a punctured tyre.
Ed
MADE TO MEASURE
Curtains, Roman Blinds, Wooden Venetians and Roller Blinds
Cushions, Knitted Cushions and Knitted Garments
Alterations
[email protected] Tel: 01453 835614 Mob: 07500 220011
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
Cast your thoughts back to the village of a hundred years
ago and try to imagine how it must have felt – the
Lawrence brothers had already died, and Gilbert Browne
also, and then came the horrors of Gallipoli and the gas.
In 1915 and 1916 several more young men of Box were to
perish – how awful it must have been for families in the
village, not knowing how their husbands, sons and
brothers, friends and lovers, were faring on the battle fields.
You will find the names of the following men of Box
inscribed on the stone panels:
Alfred Hyde
Wallace Grey
Hubert Cox
Harry Smith and his brother Arthur Smith
They are also recorded on the Box Roll of Honour in St.
Barnabas Church and you will find them on the
Minchinhampton memorials, too. Definitely worthy of
remembrance! More details can be found in Nick
Thornicroft’s book “Their Country’s Urgent Call – The War
Dead of Amberley, Box and Woodchester”.
There will soon also be an excellent detailed history of the
Wayside Cross, written by our own Phil Goodwin, and we
will let you know when this becomes available.
Ros John
If you do nothing else to honour their memory, in the next
year or two please take yourself to a quiet corner of a field
in Inchbrook – just a couple of miles away – where you will
find the Woodchester Wayside Cross. The names and
details of five of the Fallen of Box are inscribed on this war
memorial and in total 140 are listed – names, ranks,
regiments, ages and dates of death. The cross was the
vision of Father Hugh Pope, at the time Prior of the
Monastery, who as early as 1916 was planning to have a
memorial to the men of the district, regardless of creed or class.
Despite some heated anti-Catholic opposition, he achieved
his aim the following year, as the dedication stone confirms:
THIS WAYSIDE CROSS
WAS ERECTED ON JUNE 3, 1917 BY THE
DOMINICAN FATHERS
OF WOODCHESTER
WITH THE GENEROUS ASSISTANCE OF
ALL CLASSES AND CREEDS OF THE
DISTRICT AND PARTS OF THE EMPIRE
IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO GAVE
THEIR LIVES IN THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM IN
THE GREAT WAR
1914 - 1918
As you can see from the old photo, the dedication service
was attended by a huge crowd, and similar crowds
gathered for the 4th August Remembrance Services in
subsequent years. After a period of decline and decay in
more recent times, it has now undergone some welldeserved renovation works. The Cross stands just above
the A46, opposite what used to be the Newman Henders
works and below the Priory Church of The Annunciation.
WALLACE WILLIAM GREY 1894 - 1915
Another story to emerge from the Great War is that of
Wallace Grey, a native of Box. At his baptism, in 1897, his
surname was given as Burford; this anomaly is resolved as his
father, William, was the son of Harriett Burford who later
married George Grey. William appears to have used Grey as
a surname, but was legally Burford. In 1888 he married
Harriett Powis in Stroud, but their first two sons died within a
year of birth. Of thirteen children only Wallace, Elizabeth
and Louisa were still alive in 1911.
William and Harriet appear to have spent all their married
life in Box, living close to the Box Inn, in one of the small
cottages in that vicinity; the Census records do not give any
further address details but the dwelling had a total of four
rooms. By 1911 William described himself as a coal haulier
with Wallace a brass worker and Elizabeth a silk millhand.
Louisa was still at school.
Wallace joined the army in
1914, enlisting at Stroud,
although he is not thought to
be shown on the photograph of
the earliest recruits in
Minchinhampton. However, he
is named as serving his country
in November 1914 in Holy
Trinity magazine (which would,
of course, have been his parish
church and was where he was
baptised). He was a member of
the 10th (Service) Battalion,
Gloucestershire Regiment. This
had been formed at Bristol in September 1914 as part of
Kitchener’s New Army, an (initially) all-volunteer army formed
in the UK following the outbreak of hostilities. The recruits
were formed into completely new battalions, attached to the
old regular battalions, 1st and 2nd Gloucestershire.
Following initial training, probably at Horfield in Bristol,
soldiers were billeted in Cheltenham in November 1914 and
then Wallace would have moved to Salisbury Plain for
advanced training in April 1915.
By the summer of 1915 it became necessary to deploy the
first units of the New Army on the Western Front. Wallace
landed in France on 8th August and 10th Battalion joined 1st
Battalion in First Division, under the command of General Sir
Douglas Haig. By this time Wallace had risen to the rank of
Corporal (although some local sources quote Sergeant) and
training continued through warm conditions in early
September. Together, both the New and the Old, they would
take part in the battle of Loos that autumn. Compared with
earlier small-scale British efforts, this attack of six Divisions
was a mighty offensive indeed - so much so that it was
referred to at the time as 'The Big Push', however only in a
supporting role to a larger French attack in the Third Battle
of Artois. It took place, therefore, on ground not of their
choosing: across wide, flat expanses dotted with spoil heaps
and before stocks of ammunition and heavy artillery were
sufficient. The opening of the battle was noteworthy for the
first use of poison gas by the British Army. The Long, Long
Trail, a website detailing the British Army in the Great War,
gives further detail of the first day, September 25th, during
which Wallace received the wounds which led to his death
two days later.
“The left-hand 1st Division began to advance a few minutes
late, after casualties were suffered from the British gas which
had drifted back into the assault trenches. … The 1st
Brigade did not suffer so badly from gas, and the lead
battalions (10/Gloucesters and 8/R. Berkshires, both New
19
Army units that had replaced Guards battalions in the
Division in August 1915) advanced through all objectives
despite heavy casualties. … But the reserves had been held
too far from the battle front to be able to exploit the
successes and succeeding days bogged down into attritional
warfare for minor gains.”
It seems that Wallace was evacuated to the town of Lilliers,
near Bethune, which was a hospital centre with casualty
clearing stations located there, along with billets and
headquarter offices. He died from his wounds on September
27th a few months after another young soldier from that part
of Box, Alfred Hyde, who was also a brass worker. Wallace’s
parents at home in Box must have been devastated to
receive news of his death. His commanding officer wrote
“The noble way in which your gallant son received his
wounds … it was indeed a sacrifice worthy of an Englishman.
He fell while leading his men in a charge which afterwards
proved victorious. He was much esteemed by all who knew
him and his loss is greatly felt in the company.”
Four months later William received £3 owed in back-pay to
his son and in 1919 a further £4 10s. “War Gratuity”.
Wallace’s grave is in the Lilliers Communal Cemetery in
France but his sacrifice is commemorated on the Town War
Memorial in Minchinhampton, the Calvary outside Holy
Trinity, the Memorial inside St. Barnabas and on the Wayside
Cross at Woodchester.
Thanks to Diana Wall for her research and article.
BOX VILLAGE GREEN
I’m sure every village resident has, at some time or another,
walked past Box Village Green and thought “That grass looks
well kept…” but does everybody know who keeps it so well
maintained? Is it the local council? Or the Highways Authority?
Well, in fact, like a lot of things in Box it’s mainly down to a
small group of hard-working volunteers.
Minchinhampton Parish Council owns the village green and
gives Box Village Society a small grant towards the cost of
maintaining it, from which we take the costs of fuel and use of
the Village Hall’s lawn mower. Any funds left over go towards
other Village Society projects, such as maintaining the benches,
notice boards, village maps, the phone box library and so on.
We are particularly lucky to have six volunteers who, for many
years, have given their labour by taking part in a rota, each
volunteer cutting
and maintaining
the village green
two or three
times a year
during the
summer months.
These include Bill
Morris, Simon
Moreland, Rob
Toon and Jon
Martin. Perhaps
particular thanks
should go to
Rodney Cripps
(pictured), who
seems to be forever driving up and down on his ride-on mower,
often dashing out to cut the green on the only suitable dry day
in the week.
Thanks to you all for your years of mowing. If any other resident
would like to join the team, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Steve Hemmings, 832908
Parting Shots - seen on gravestones
ENTROPY
Harry Edsel Smith of Albany , New York, 1903 - 1942:
Tantalising Topology
For those who like a brain-teaser, here's a little
topological problem:
A typical toilet roll has many sheets, separated by
perforations. These long perforated strips are 2-ply:
that is, they are two layers thick. Sometimes the 'plies'
get out of sync, and the perforations don't match up.
This happens when one of the layers has had more
sheets removed than the other.
Strangely (or not?), it doesn't seem to matter which layer
has been reduced, you can always restore the
synchronisation of the perforations by unwinding the
outer layer.
Try it, then try to explain why this is so (answers on a
postcard please!).
Hearing Aid
It seems that
premature-onset
deafness is on the
increase.
Fortunately the
leading-edge
technology born
of thoroughgoing
NHS research can
always be relied
on to offer a
practical solution.
Looked up the elevator shaft to see if the
car was on the way down. It was.
=============================
In a Thurmont, Maryland , cemetery:
Here lies an Atheist, all dressed up
and no place to go.
=============================
In a Silver City, Nevada , cemetery:
Here lays The Kid,
We planted him raw.
He was quick on the trigger,
But slow on the draw.
================================
An English lawyer's epitaph:
Sir John Strange.
Here lies an honest lawyer,
and that is Strange.
=================================
On the grave of Ezekial Aikle in Nova Scotia:
Here lies Ezekial Aikle, Age 102.
Only the good die young.
=============================
In a London cemetery:
Here lies Ann Mann, who lived an old maid
but died an old Mann. Dec. 8, 1767
=============================
In a Ribbesford, Worcestershire cemetery:
Anna Wallace
The children of Israel wanted bread,
And the Lord sent them manna.
Clark Wallace wanted a wife,
And the Devil sent him Anna.
===============================
In a Uniontown, Pennsylvania, cemetery:
testing the new appliance on the beach at Minchinhampton
Look away now . . .
Husband buys his son an iPAD, his daughter an iPOD,
himself an iPHONE and his wife an iRON.
She wasn’t impressed, even after he explained it can be
integrated with the iWASH, iCOOK and iCLEAN network.
This triggered the iNAG service which totally wiped out the
iWILL and iDO functions.
Thanks to Barbara Robbins for supplying this – our
censor was forced to amend it slightly!
Sign Language
This is likely to become a
regular feature, so please
send us your contributions!
Here lies the body of Jonathan Blake,
Stepped on the gas instead of the brake..
==============================
John Penny's epitaph in the Wimborne cemetery:
Reader, if cash thou art in want of any,
Dig 6 feet deep and thou wilt find a Penny.
==================================
In a cemetery in Hartscombe:
On the 22nd of June, Jonathan Fiddle went out of tune.
==================================
Anna Hopewell's grave in Enosburg Falls, Vermont:
Here lies the body of our Anna,
Done to death by a banana.
It wasn't the fruit that laid her low,
But the skin of the thing that made her go.
==================================
On a grave from the 1880s in Nantucket, Massachusetts:
Under the sod and under the trees,
Lies the body of Jonathan Pease.
He is not here, there's only the pod,
Pease shelled out and went to God.
==================================
In a cemetery somewhere in England:
Remember man, as you walk by,
As you are now, so once was I.
As I am now, so shall you be,
Remember this and follow me.
To which someone replied by writing on the tombstone:
To follow you I'll not consent,
Until I know which way you went.
A Box Business (fishy one, this . . )
The sleepy old village
of Box seems an idyllic
place to wind down
after a stressful day at
work but in keeping
with modern trends
many of us now are
fortunate enough to be
able, with modern
technology, to call Box
also our place of work.
After many years
ploughing the motorways and putting nearly 400,000 miles
on my company car I am now one of those people.
Not wanting to be reliant on other people when starting
another business I asked myself what it was that I could do
by myself, and in this way have found myself in the Angling
business, a sport I have always enjoyed. Having no shop or
major overhead allows the business to be multifaceted,
importing tackle from China, the USA and Italy and
distributing to retail shops all over the UK and Ireland.
This links in to a fishing guiding service and even
organising some exciting fishing trips abroad as well as
looking after a famous trout river beat between Tetbury
and Malmesbury. Box Loch at Box House has frequently
been used as a teaching venue as well (thanks David!)
The ability to run such a business is totally dependent on
the internet and although the download speed is not the
greatest it seems to work for me most of the time.
Tackle comes in from
suppliers and goes out
to shops and
customers on a daily
basis, keeping the
lanes of Box a bit busy
at times. Frequent
retail customers come
from Brazil, Hungary,
Australia, Spain and
Ireland and the
international nature of
my day-to-day contacts is a great contrast with the view of
Box Woods out of the office window.
All the delivery drivers are now well known and everyone
works as a team to get the job done, packing tackle for
despatch becomes a social event with everyone passing
and stopping for a chat.
Internationally famous anglers are frequent visitors to get
their gear direct and the company sponsors angling teams
in international competitions from England, Wales and
Ireland, boys, girls and juniors. They are amazed such a
company exists in such a lovely village far from the sea!
Next month a team using fishing tackle from Box even
heads off to South Africa for the world surf casting
internationals hoping to catch sharks from the beach.
Of course being a one man band means things are very
hectic at busy times of the year but the great thing is you
can always turn the computer off! Box is a great place to
work in as everyone looks after one another and I feel it a
secure and safe place, unlike many trading estates.
So if anyone wants any fishing gear, be it for Carp, Trout,
Sharks or Mackerel don’t hesitate to call in for a cup of tea
and some advice, just be prepared to be interrupted by my
customer from Brazil asking when his hooks are going to
arrive!
Bill Morris
21
COUNCILLOR’S CORNER
Whilst we continue to wait for Gloucestershire County
Council’s Highways Department to provide final
confirmation of the additional footpaths in Box Wood
(yes, they are confirmed but we’re still waiting for the
“rubber stamp”), a few planning applications have come
and gone in recent months.
In April a
previously
withdrawn
application
was revised
and
resubmitted
for Thyme
Cottage for
the erection
of a two
storey side
extension,
porch
extension and further alterations to form a guest
bedroom and shower room in the existing garage roof
space.
Although Minchinhampton Parish Council did express
concern about the size of the proposed extension in
relation to the existing dwelling and plot, Stroud District
Council approved the application.
In May an application was made by the new residents of
Sun Cottage (Scar Hill) to enlarge and upgrade an
existing outbuilding to provide a self-contained
habitable annex. This was supported by
Minchinhampton Parish Council (with conditions) and
later approved by Stroud District Council, who
maintained those same conditions of use.
Similarly, an application was submitted for Southview
(Nailsworth Hill – The W) to replace an elderly garage
with a new garage and “home office”. This application
was also supported by Minchinhampton Parish Council
and later approved by Stroud District Council, with
similar conditions that the home-office is used only for
domestic purposes and not for business use or as a
separate dwelling; a condition that is normally made on
any domestic extension.
Don’t forget that if you wish to be informed of planning
applications in Box immediately they are released, you
can go to Stroud District Council’s planning web pages
http://www.stroud.gov.uk/planning and request that all
planning applications within 500 metres of your post
code are e-mailed to you as soon as they are made
public. Alternatively all applications within the parish can
be found on Minchinhampton Parish Council’s web site:
www.stroud.gov.uk/minchinhampton under “Parish
Planning”. It’s a fascinating way to spend a wet
afternoon!
Cllr Steve Hemmings, Minchinhampton Parish
Councillor, Box Ward.
1 Baycroft, Box, Tel: 01453 832908
E-mail [email protected]
BOX PLAYERS
Gardening Tips from Adrian Thomas, RSPB
The thing I'm always aware of when
talking about gardening for wildlife is
that we've all got very different
gardens!
Big or small; urban or rural; different
soils, different aspects, different needs. That glorious
diversity means collectively we can do so much to help
garden wildlife.
Of course, there are also the geographical differences, so I
very much enjoyed my 'Puffin Pilgrimage' up north last
week where I managed to fit in visits to the gardens at
Harlow Carr in Yorkshire and Alnwick in Northumberland.
There I could compare the plants and wildlife with those in
my southern-softie Sussex garden, over 300 miles away.
You know what? What was noticeable was how much mine
and their gardens had in common. The salvias, geraniums,
single-flowered roses and so many other plants that I grow
are just as happy in northern gardens... and attract just as
many bees and bumblebees.
There certainly weren't many butterflies to be seen,
however, but then it has been a very poor year so far for
many species, as you may have noticed.
However, July is where things really start to pick up with
the emergence of the high summer butterflies, and only
yesterday back in my Sussex garden there were seven
species including Ringlet and Large Skipper.
I'm sure you grow some of the few nectar plants that
butterflies use - they really are very choosy so you'll know
you have to select your plants well.
Our new Giving Nature a Home pages include some of my
recommendations for the very best plants to try.
Visit the Homes for Wildlife website to read my update in
full. You can also check into my blog each week as I
explore gardens and garden wildlife through the seasons,
and experiment in my new garden to give nature a home.
Happy gardening!
No sooner do we put away the costumes, clear up the
scenery and props, relaxing in the glory of the last
production, when we find ourselves thinking about the next
one!
David Sharp has written a panto for 2016 called Dick
Whittington. Brian Woosey is taking a well earned break!
We shall be holding our AGM on Monday 14th September
at 7.30pm in the Hall immediately after which we shall have
an initial read through of the script. All those interested in
taking part – on stage or off
– are very welcome to
attend. If you’ve not
trodden the boards before
but fancy a go, now is your
chance!
Auditions will be held on
Tuesday 29th and
Wednesday 30th September
at 7.30pm in the Hall. Please
come along. If you need
further information please
contact me on Tel: 832345.
Chris Ames, Chairman
TOFFEE BEATS THE REST!
Hannah and Jamie Edmonston
(Scar Hill Lodge) entered our
dog Toffee into the Cotswold
Wildlife Park 'Scruffs' dog show
recently and he won 'Dog the
Judge would most like to take
home' and then 'Best in Show'.
The children were thrilled.
Alison Edmonston
BOX SWIMMING CLUB
Why not take the plunge and join us!
We meet every Thursday Evening at Beaudesert
Park School Swimming Pool: 8.00 to 9.00 pm.
The pool is a good size with lanes to suit
swimmers of varying abilities and speeds.
We have underwater lighting for a relaxing
atmosphere and you are able to swim for the full
hour or just part of the time.
The club especially welcomes members from Box
although others from surrounding villages also join us.
If interested please contact:
Andrew Pettit on 834766 or
[email protected]
22
a vivid adder in Brian Dowling’s garden
to have a ‘bring and share’ library!
This one was spotted in Diano Borganzo, a small village in
Liguria, Italy. As well as Italian there were books in German,
Dutch and
English.
If you haven’t
yet read Annie
Hawes’ two
books about
life in the
Diano villages
we recommend
you do!
Beris Hanks
Well-deserved
Award
Veronika Madsen has
been awarded one of
the Minchinhampton
Baptist’s 250 Easter
Eggs for her litter
picking. The Easter
Eggs are awarded for
Acts of Kindness. You
may have spotted
Veronika up on
Minchinhampton
Common in all
weathers.
Thank you Veronika
for this important
community service.
THE BEAT GOES ACCESS:
ON . .
Have you ever wondered where the
inspiration for song lyrics comes from?
Of course, there's no single answer, but
here are some of the stories behind
some familiar songs:
JUG BAND
ALL AREAS
PERFORMER
✘
FOLD HERE
Box is not the only place . .
I Shot The SheriffMANAGEMENT
(Bob Marley)
According to his girlfriend,
the song was
ROAD CREW
inspired by their fights
over
birth control,
FACILITIES
was theOFdoctor
and "The Sheriff"FRONT
HOUSEwho prescribed the birth-control
pill "Sheriff John Brown always hated me; For what I don't know;
Every time I plant a seed; He said kill it before it grow"
BACKSTAGE PASS
I Am The Walrus (Lennon/McCartney)
John Lennon received a letter from one of his former classmates
at Quarry Bank High School mentioning that a language professor
had set his students the task of analysing the Beatles' lyrics.
This provoked John into writing a deliberately unfathomable
gibberish lyric. "Let the f***ers work that one out!" he exclaimed.
You're So Vain (Carly Simon)
Over the years the singer/songwriter has dropped a few hints
about the subject of the song, but never revealed it publicly,
although she did sell the right to learn the secret for charity, to
the president of NBC Sports. Warren Beatty, with whom she had
a tempestuous relationship has always (vainly?) assumed that he
was the subject.
Ticket To Ride (Lennon/McCartney)
The fab four had paid their musical dues playing the Reeperbahn
clubs in Hamburg's notorious red-light district, and Lennon
claimed that a 'Ticket to ride' was the term given to an official
card issued by the health authorities to German prostitutes who
had been given a clean bill of health.
You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet (Bachman-Turner Overdrive)
The distinctive 'b-b-b-baby you just ain't seen nothing yet' refrain
was recorded as a joke on Randy Bachman's brother Gary, who
had a pronounced stammer, but was never intended for public
release. However, their record producer Charlie Fach heard it and
recognised its hit-potential, and when released it reached number
one in the US charts.
Yesterday (Paul McCartney)
McCartney got the idea for the melody and chord progression
while touring in Germany, and it developed without a lyrical
theme for some time. He improvised a temporary lyric
"Scrambled eggs, oh my baby how I love your legs" until the final
introspective lyric theme surfaced.
Save The Last Dance For Me (The Drifters)
This timeless classic has bittersweet origins - Doc Pomus wrote it
after watching his new bride dance with everyone else at his
wedding reception. Pomus was crippled with polio.
The Jug Band welcomes a new member, Mark 'Hound-Dog'
Rogers. Self-styled Mark has a fine voice, and brings with him
an entourage of beautiful and lascivious groupies (well, maybe
one). Singing is, of course, a Hound-Dog family tradition (see
Twelvetree Voices article elsewhere in these pages), so
perhaps he has been hiding his light under a bushel all these
years (I've heard him and he should find a bigger bushel - Ed).
The entourage is a first for the Jug Band, and we are hoping
Mark's adulation will spill over to the rest of the group. It does
however trigger the application of Rule 47b (sub-section iii):
"where a Jug Band member is accompanied by an acolyte or acolytes,
the acolyte(s) must provide sufficient spirituous liquor to satisfy all Band
members present at the rehearsal(s)".
23 John Storey, [email protected]
BOX WI
What a busy few months Box WI members have had. The
Centenary celebrations have been in full swing with
opportunities to don hats and posh frocks! Box was
represented at a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace –
a windy but wonderful event – and three members attended
the Centenary AGM at the Royal Albert Hall with the Queen
as guest of honour. It was hats and posh frocks again for the
eight members who attended the County Celebration Picnic
at Highnam Court near Gloucester. We all had the thrill of
singing Jerusalem accompanied on the very organ that Sir
Hubert Parry used to play.
June was also the
month that Box WI
celebrated their 25th
Anniversary. The village
had an Institute in the
70’s and early 80’s but
disbanded in 1985 to
be reformed in 1990.
Twenty present WI
members and twentytwo invited guests
celebrated with a
Garden Party hosted by Joan Davis at Tunnel House. We
were delighted to welcome twelve former members,
including Audrey Coleman and Pat Chapman who were
founder members in 1990. The sun shone, the friendship
was very evident and the tea – served on bone china with WI
motif! – was scrumptious. And ..... it was another occasion to
don hats and posh frocks!
There have been normal WI activities! In April we learnt how
to do “Arty Doodling”, in May we had a spirited debate on
this year’s resolution “Failing to care – assessment need in
long-term care”. Members have attended various interesting
Federation events, two members enjoyed the Federation
Walking W/E in Derbyshire and two members enjoyed a stay
at the WI College, Denman.
Looking forward, the subject for the July meeting is
Hydrotherapy – something that is beneficial in post operative
rehabilitation and chronic arthritis conditions. In August we
will have our annual outing.
Sept 22nd – another celebration! Centenary Lunch and singsong with David Homer.
Oct 27th - Talk from a Chiropractor.
Nov 24th – A.G.M.
Dec – Christmas Lunch.
New members and visitors are always most welcome.
Joan Davis, 832951
ANOTHER PEAK
CONQUERED!
Congratulations to
Barry Jones, seen
here cutting the cake
on the occasion of
his 80th birthday.
The delicious cake
was baked especially
for him by his
youngest
granddaughter Nina.
Ideal for Gifts!
Please note that
Air in G promotes
entertainments in many
Gloucestershire villages. If
you would like to attend
shows outside Box, you can
get information on their
programme from Sylvia Funston
Tel 01989 566644
or download from
www.airing.co.uk
LIBRARY OPENING HOURS
Minchinhampton
Monday 2.00pm - 5.00pm
Tuesday 10.00am - 12.30pm, 2.00pm - 6.00pm
Wednesday CLOSED ALL DAY
Thursday 10.00am - 12.30pm, 2.00pm - 6.00pm
Friday 10.00am - 12.30pm, 2.00pm - 5.00pm
Saturday 9.30am - 12.30
Sunday CLOSED ALL DAY
24
Nailsworth
Monday 10.00am - 1.00pm, 2.00pm - 5.00pm
Tuesday CLOSED ALL DAY
Wednesday 10.00am - 1.00pm, 2.00pm - 5.00pm
Thursday CLOSED ALL DAY
Friday 10.00am - 1.00pm, 2.00pm - 6.00pm
Saturday 10.00am - 1.00pm
Sunday CLOSED ALL DAY
BOX VILLAGE HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Chairman:
Chris Ames, Old Box Inn, Box
832345 [email protected]
Vice-chairman:
Steve Hemmings
832908
Hon Secretary:
Ivy Witts
834347
Booking Secretary:
Jane Storey
836649
Hon. Treasurer:
Mark Robinson
834202
Committee:
Joan Davis
Sarah Kidson
Andrew Pettit
832951
832095
834766
Daphne Edwards
Colin French
Phil Goodwin
John & Jane Storey
Andrew Dawes
832757
832545
832283
883223
832610
BOX VILLAGE SOCIETY COMMITTEE
Chairman
Chris Law, Box Corner, Box
832580 [email protected]
Hon. Secretary:
Hon. Treasurer:
Lynda Brown
Anne Rogers
833118
833588
Committee:
Beris Hanks 836287
Leonie Lockwood 835749
Richard South 839142
Steve Hemmings 832908
John Storey 832757
Richard Hughes 885478
Art Group
Elaine Grainger
887934
[email protected]
Barnabas Painters
Alan Hopkins
825665
[email protected]
Bridge Group
Mark Rogers
833588
[email protected]
Coffee Mornings
Daphne Edwards
832283
[email protected]
Gardening Club
Diana Hayward
832623
[email protected]
Parish Council
Steve Hemmings
832908
[email protected]
St. Barnabas Church
Helen Bailey
882289
[email protected]
Church Convenor
Colin French
883223
[email protected]
Swimming Club
Andrew Pettit
834766
[email protected]
Table Tennis
Jacquie Hanks
836287
[email protected]
Theatre Group
Val Oldershaw
887022
[email protected]
Box Players, Director
Chris Ames
832345
[email protected]
Box Players, Co-ordinator
Jacquie Hanks
836287
[email protected]
Box WI
Joan Davis
832951
[email protected]
Neighbourhood Watch
Pauline Temple
836468
[email protected]
Box News Editor
Brendan Clements
887376
[email protected]
Box News Advertising
Lynda Brown
833118
[email protected]
Box News Features Editor
Jacquie Hanks
836287
[email protected]
Village Hall Bookings
Jane Storey
836649
[email protected]
Box Bar
Andrew Dawes
832545
[email protected]
Website Editor
Tony Hadfield
887548
[email protected]
Website Co-ordinator
Steve Hemmings
832908
[email protected]
VILLAGE CONTACTS
NB The Editor would be grateful if you could notify him of any errors, omissions or changes to this list.
31
ART GROUP
The term ended with more of a whimper than a bang in
June as attendance really dropped. Not only were gardens
needing attention, and holidays booked before the schools
broke up but in addition members were moving, and
either suffering health problems themselves or caring for a
spouse. These are all very stressful situations but hopefully
by September 10th, our start date, everyone will be raring
to go, relaxed after a vacation, settled in new homes and
fully recovered or at least feeling better.
that they have hanging
in their homes. We have
seen some beautiful
pieces and the
additional, often very
personal, information is
an added bonus. The
tutors really enjoy
pointing out brush
strokes, use of colour,
composition, view-point
etc. so it is a really
useful teaching aide.
Thanks Jo.
The sun shone again for
our end-of-term social
held at my home which
about twenty members and spouses attended. It was a
lovely afternoon, but the gold star goes to Sue Brown as
the only member to actually sketch! Brian Dowling's
photographs of the event show how very relaxed we all
were, I'm sure we were talking about art!
In fact the social aspect of the group cannot be
underestimated, recent
research shows that
interaction with a group
as well as physical and
mental challenges all
help ward off dementia.
In the programme 'Trust
me I'm a doctor' three
groups were told to
either walk briskly, do
puzzles or life-drawing
three hours a week to
see which performed
better at mental tests.
After a month the lifedrawing group had
improved the most.
Now there's something
I did not expect to
very appetising certainly - but is it Art?
write, join our art group
and keep your brain alert!
We do have some vacancies.
Our final competition, set by tutor Hollie, was all about the
use of colour. We were encouraged to look at work by
artists who had used colour in unusual ways and to
produce a picture where we had radically altered the
colour to create the mood we wanted. It was a challenge
but, as always, some lovely works were produced. It was
won by Janet Back with a wintry scene in which the tree
was blue, it exactly captured the cold mood she was after
and was a deserving winner.
Sadly Hollie can no longer continue as our tutor, her family
commitments as well as her very busy art shop in Stroud
where she also runs painting courses mean she cannot
devote the time to us. Hollie says she is very sad to leave
us as the talent and ideas she sees at Box inspire her own
work. We are very sad to see her go but thank her for the
instruction, encouragement and motivation she has given
us over the past couple of years. A new tutor, Stephen
Brooking, will start in September. There has not been a
male instructor during my time with the art group, but of
course the group was started by well-known artist, Edward
Payne. I did not tell Stephen he is following in some
esteemed footsteps!
Our other tutor, Roxy, has set a lovely summer project.
Members are to collect articles, photographs, exhibition
notes, sketch books in fact anything that shows they have
been looking at, reading about or doing art during the
summer months. This should result in an interesting display
and discussion. Talking about pictures has become a
regular feature at the tea-time break thanks to an idea of
Jo Keyte's which was that members bring in original works
26
Our term will quickly move into gear on September 10th
when members will bring in pictures for the Fayre in
Minchinhampton on September 12th, these will be
displayed in the church with a percentage of any sales
going to the church. Our AGM is on September 17th and
meanwhile preparations for our annual art exhibition will
be well under-way thanks to David and Ann Jackson and
Chris Sharpe. The exhibition is from Friday 0ctober 16th Sunday 18th. We hope to see you there.
Enjoy the summer.
Elaine Grainger
BRIAN’S BIRDS
The quality of these
photos, submitted by Brian
Dowling, speaks for itself.
On the left we have a
watchful robin and a plump
fieldfare against a snowy
background.
On the right, a blackbird
forages among the berries
while a proud bullfinch
looks on.
This handsome cock
pheasant appears startled
by our intrusion!
Finally, (below) could this
be a challenge from a
slightly belligerent- looking
chaffinch?
PHOTOS IN THIS ISSUE
(unless otherwise credited):
Ros John (masthead), Vagn Madsen,
Brian Dowling, Steve Hemmings,
Beris Hanks, Pauline Temple.
Very often, getting a good photo is about
being in
the right
place at
the right
time, like
this
famous
old shot anyone
know
where it
was taken
(no
prizes!)?
MORE REMARKABLE NATURE IN BOX
If you are not convinced, I give you the most remarkable
Phil Goodwin
HOOPOE OR WHOPPER?
confidant of King
Solomon, a symbol
of virtue in Persia, a
harbinger of war in
Scandinavia. It is
also the national
bird of Israel.
Yet even more remarkable was the next stage. It began to
grow, to develop a structure of support, to build itself up
with little boat shapes, one on top of the other gradually
growing in height Eventually it was tall enough to produce
vivid yellow flowers. To be able to do this without any
apparent food source is even more remarkable.
In response to the ‘Record of Box 2015’ Bird Survey we
have been alerted to a sighting of a Hoopoe! It was
spotted early in the morning, on two occasions in mid
April, sitting on top of a tree in Box village.
What, you may well ask, is a Hoopoe? A little research by
the team has revealed that it is a European bird like no
other. Apparently nothing can be mistaken for it!
The Hoopoe is about the size of a Mistle Thrush (length of
25 to 29 centimetres long/10 to 11 inches; wing span of 44
to 48 centimetres/ 17 to 19 inches). It has a pink-beige
body with black and white banding on the wings and tail.
This banding is particularly noticeable when it is in flight,
which is described as erratic, undulating and similar to a
giant butterfly. A unique feature is the crest which often
remains closed becoming erectile and fan-like when it first
settles or when aroused. It utters a soft, low, quick ‘oopoop-oop’ and the occasional hoarse ‘scheer’.
The Hoopoe is a fairly rare migrant seen in the south of
Britain during April and May. It very rarely breeds here. The
Hoopoe forages on bare ground and closely cropped grass
(especially vicarage lawns!) using its curved beak to probe
for larvae, pupae, insects and spiders.
Superstition has it that hearing or spotting a Hoopoe
before the first wine pressing foretells a good vintage. The
Hoopoe was the King of Birds in the Ancient Greek
comedy ‘The Birds’ by Aristophanes, a favourite and
Well – had our
twitcher had one
too many glasses
of wine or were we
really graced by a
visit from this unusual bird? Further research has revealed
that there were two reported sightings on 16th April - one
at Slimbridge and the other at Hawkesbury Upton.
Jacquie Hanks
SURVEY REMINDER
Don’t forget our vital Bird and Plant Surveys, an ongoing
Record of Box, started in 1990 and repeated this year. We
enclosed a survey sheet with the last issue of Box News,
but it’s not too late, even if you have mislaid the sheet you can download it from the village website
www.box-village.com
Please send your completed survey sheets to Long Cottage
by the end of January 2016. Many thanks!
printed by Stroud Print, Stroud Enterprise Centre, Lightpill, Stroud GL5 3NL
I looked it up in the reference books and found it was
called Biting Stonecrop or even Prick Madam, both
remarkable names. Sometimes it was called Wall Pepper
which is more remarkable. Did people eat it?
thing about this humble plant. The great naturalists
W.H. Hudson and Geoffrey Grigson both delighted in
another name for this plant. Apparently it used to be called
“Welcome-home-husband-though-never-so-drunk”. This is
remarkable on three counts. Firstly it aptly describes the
bright pretty flower as it sits on walls and roofs waiting like
the ladies of Box for the master of the house to return,
having quenched his thirst after a hard day’s work.
Secondly if it is hyphenated as shown in their writings, it
becomes a candidate for the longest word in the English
language, (36 letters and 6 hyphens) and thirdly it begs the
question: at which of our now-lost hostelries were these
husbands quenching their thirst; the Box Inn or the muchlamented Halfway House? What lucky men they were to
have a choice and to have wives and stonecrop waiting at
home for them.
design and artwork by John Storey 01453 832757
I built this wall and placed a pot plant on it. In the pot
plant a stonecrop had taken an opportunity to introduce
itself and happily existed below its host, benefitting from
the regular feeding and watering. In the autumn the pot
plant came indoors to find protection from the winter
storms that sweep across from Amberley. A piece of the
stonecrop fell out on to the wall and lay there all winter on
the solid smooth stone in the wind and the rain. What was
remarkable was that by the spring it had found enough
sustenance in solid stone to form roots. Many of us in Box
collect bucketfuls of stones from our flower beds. After all
nothing grows on stones does it?
01453 764251
I give you my photograph of a remarkable plant that is
growing in Box. This follows on from my writings on the
remarkable bee orchids and the remarkable green
woodpecker. “What on earth!” you are saying.” Surely this
humble stonecrop plant is not remarkable. It is almost as
common as grass and found throughout the village!”
“Wait!” I reply, “It has several remarkable properties.”