STEEP AND STROUD

NEWSLETTER

NO 531 MAY 2015

Those who keep in touch with the

Bedales Arts programme through its

termly brochure, or monitor the en-

tertainment pages of the local

press, will be aware that Bedales

Gallery celebrated its twenty-fifth

anniversary in January.

Bedales Gallery came about through

an initiative of the Heads of Art &

Design at Bedales, George Hatton

and Martin Box, who persuaded the

then Headmaster and Governors

that the new Design building, de-

signed by Jon Barnsley, should in-

clude a purpose-built gallery for tem-

porary exhibitions. The intention was

to have a worthy space for exhibiting

the students’ work but also to pro-

vide inspiration for the students and

the wider school community through

presentation of professional work

across a wide range of arts and

crafts disciplines. There was also a

very clear wish to open more of the

School’s facilities to the local com-

munity. Of course, local friends of

BEDALES GALLERY

CONTENT

25 YEARS AGO page 3

DIARY DATES page 4

USEFUL CONTACTS page 6

STEEP/STROUD NEWS page 7

CHURCH NEWS page 18

SERVICE TIMES back page

2

the school had attended concerts

and plays for many years but the

opening of the Gallery started to

move this engagement with the cul-

tural life of the wider community to

a new level.

The Gallery has celebrated local

connections, for example in its exhi-

bitions of furniture from the Edward

Barnsley Workshop and the special

exhibition by Alan Peters, another

distinguished furniture designer and

maker, originally from Petersfield

and trained at the Froxfield work-

shop.

Many local artists and makers have

exhibited over the years, including

William Pullen, Mary Herdman and

Anita Gellatly, alongside group

shows proposed by consortiums of

artists and makers from across the

region.

The Gallery’s wide brief across art

and design has also been well-

served by links with local individuals

and businesses. An exhibition on

the Principles and Practice of Flight

enjoyed the support and participa-

tion of a number of local clubs, soci-

eties and individual experts. Roy

Aylieff, late of Steep and Langrish

Tooling Products, masterminded a

memorable exhibition on the Design

and Technology of the Racing Bicy-

cle. Paul Martin, of Paul Martin De-

sign in Petersfield, initiated a distin-

guished series of exhibitions and

lectures by internationally acclaimed

designers and artists, including Alan

Fletcher, Richard Seymour, Quentin

Blake and David Gentleman.

In this way, Bedales hopes that it

has helped to enrich the life of the

local community for all who are in-

terested in sharing this work, which

also extended to great names such

as Picasso, Kollwitz, Hockney and

Goya, among others, in the visiting

Hayward Gallery touring exhibitions.

An almost unbroken series of term-

time exhibitions has been open free

of charge on weekday afternoons

and Saturday mornings in a Gallery

conveniently situated on the outer

fringe of the campus, by the main

car park.

Having dipped its toe in the water

with the Gallery in 1990, the Be-

dales Arts programme was well and

truly launched with the opening of

the Theatre in 1996. But that is an-

other story…

John Barker

Arts Programme Co-ordinator

Bedales

3

25 YEARS AGO DID YOU SEE any of the London Marathon on Sunday

22nd [1990]? Somewhere among the 25,450 runners

where Ivan Marshall, the Chef at Bedales, and Da-

vid Laws, Bedales Lab. Technician. Ivan’s time

was 3 hrs. 23.49, nearly 30 minutes faster than

last year, and he hopes to have raised about

£1,300 towards the cost of a portable ultrasound

scanner for Queen Alexandra Hospital. David’s

time was 3 hrs. 59.40, with a sponsorship total

of over £400 for Imperial Cancer Research Fund.

Well done both runners! H.E.G.

STEEP SCHOOL We are pleased to welcome the new

Head Teacher of Steep School, Mrs. Helen Wilson.

Mrs. Wilson has already met many of the parents

on her visits to the School, and hopes to meet

everyone at the Summer Fair on 12th May.

A NEW CRICKET SEASON is upon us, and Steep will

have played the first home game before this ap-

pears in print. Much work has been taking place

at the ground during the close season, including

the provision of a permanent net wicket. The

League, Sunday and ‘Village’ teams will be cap-

tained by Rudi Antrobus, Andrew Wilson and Phil

Gibbs respectively. They, or the Club Chairman,

Rollo Wicksteed would welcome news of local play-

ers or supporters of the Club.

The League team has home matches on May 5th

and 19th. Sunday games are against Buriton, South

Bersted and Chawtoon. Stamford Veitch’s XI are

the visitors on May 26th. If the weather’s right

why not come and watch? H.E.G.

4

STEEP FILM SOCIETY Saturday 2 May GRAVITY staring

George Clooney and Sandra Bullock

as a doctor and engineer left adrift

in orbit following an accident.

Friday 15 May is THE IMITATION

GAME. Benedict Cumberbatch stars

in the story of Alan Turin’s achieve-

ment and untimely death.

Saturday 30 May - WHAT WE DID ON

OUR HOLIDAY. David Tennant and

Rosamund Pike play the put-upon

parents of three kids in Scotland.

Start 8pm at Steep Village Hall.

Cash bar from 7.30pm.

Tickets from Sheila Fairley -

269339. ALL WELCOME

but must book ahead

WHITE HORSE WALKS 2015

On Sunday 3rd of May - see page 17

BEDALES OLIVIER THEATRE

8.00pm Tuesday 5 May

Jazz series - THE PRINTMAKERS

Norma Winstone – vocals

Nikki Iles – piano

Mike Walker – guitar

Mark Lockheart – sax

Steve Watts – bass

James Maddren – drums

7.30pm Tuesday 2 June

KATHAKALI

A vibrant, sensuous feast of ancient

and culturally significant dance the-

atre performed by a company of

renowned international artists from

Kerala, the home of Kathakali in

India, visiting the UK after major

tours of the United States and

France. tickets@bedales.org.uk

PLANT SALE AT

LITTLE HAWSTEAD

On Saturday 9th May there will be a

Plant Sale in aid of Steep Flower

Show. This will be at 69, Church

Road, 10.30 - 12 noon. The aim is

to provide a good array of bedding

plants, vegetables, shrubs etc. Come

and enjoy this social event with refresh-

ments available. Any plant donations

gratefully received at Little

Hawstead on Thursday 7th May.

Frankie North - 263435

CHRISTIAN AID COFFEE

MORNING To raise funds for this vital charity

there will be a Coffee Morning on

Tuesday 12th May at Tithe Barn,

102 Church Road, Steep. Please do

come and meet your friends and

enjoy the garden if fine. 10.00 to

12.00.

David Storey - 265591

DIARY DATES

5

STROUD EVENING WI 12 May - Annual Meeting and

Resolutions at Steep Village Hall at

7.30 p.m.

Enquiries: Pauline Cook - 263406

WELCOME CLUB Thursday 14th May - 3.30pm at the Village Hall. Games followed by tea and chat.

Thursday 28th May - Tea with Jane Jonathan at Sheet House. Meet at 3.15pm at Steep Village Hall to car share.

Heather Maybury - 266855

& Judy Thompson - 267362

THE HANGERS GARDEN CLUB Monday, 18th May – a visit to Jo

Dunbar’s herbal garden – 19 North

Stroud Lane. Jo Dunbar is a Medi-

cal Herbalist who founded Botanica

Medica in 2003.

Contact - Jocelyn Hooton - 261339

STROUD PARISH COUNCIL

MEETING

Stroud Parish Council Meeting and

AGM – Tuesday 19 May 2015 at

7.30 pm at Langrish School Hall.

PLEASE NOTE NEW VENUE

COPY FOR THE JUNE NEWSLETTER

by midday on Wednesday 20 May To David Dobson at Downgate Cottage, Steep Marsh, GU32 2BE

Or davidandjoanna@talktalk.net and storeycelia@gmail.com

FOR STROUD to Jeremy Mitchell at Fairlands, Finchmead Lane,

Stroud GU32 3PF or mitchjd@btinternet.com - tel. 267214

The format will be sharing a meal

together in various homes in Steep,

in small groups of six or eight.

Groupings of guests and venue will

change with each course, and eve-

rything finishes at the Vicarage with

puddings and coffee. The aim is

that we get to know each other a

little better and enjoy sharing hospi-

tality.

Tickets will be £10 per head, and it

is planned to contribute profits to

charity. Tickets will soon be on sale

and all are most welcome.

Jane Owen - 264282

STROUD AFTERNOON WI 21 May - AGM and Resolutions

Details Georgina Cowdrey - 300816

Steep Safari Supper

6

BEDALES OPEN EVENING FOR

STEEP COMMUNITY – 9 JUNE Bedales School is holding its fourth

annual Open Evening for Steep resi-

dents on 9 June 2015 at 7pm. All

members of the local community are

warmly invited. The event will take

place in the school’s Orchard Build-

ing and refreshments will be provid-

ed.

Keith Budge, Headmaster and Rich-

ard Lushington, Bursar, will provide

short updates on developments and

future plans at Bedales Senior, Prep

and Pre-prep Schools, and there will

be ample opportunity for questions

and discussion.

The school encourages all local resi-

dents to come along to find out

more about the Bedales Schools.

FROXFIELD CHOIR

Froxfield Choir’s annual Summer

Concert will be on Saturday

13th June at 7.30pm at Holy Trinity,

Privett. The programme includes

John Rutter’s Gloria, in celebration

of the composer’s 70th birthday, as

well as Songs and Sonnets with mu-

sic by George Shearing and words

by William Shakespeare and Mo-

zart’s Spatzenmesse. Enjoy drinks

outside before the performance and

during the interval. Tickets available

from One Tree Books, Petersfield.

£15 (£12 students).

www.froxfieldchoir.co.uk

SAVE THE DATE – STROUD

REVELS

This year’s Revels will be held on

Saturday 27 June at New Buildings

Farm, with the kind permission of

the Winscom family. Whilst it will be

hard to beat the success of last

year’s event, Stroud’s finest are

working hard to come up with an

equally attractive programme that

will appeal to all.

USEFUL CONTACTS Newsletter: David Dobson 261344 davidandjoanna@talktalk.net

Steep Village website: www.steepvillage.com

Steep Parish Clerk: Jenny Hollington 267784

Stroud Parish Clerk: clerk.stroud@parish.hants.gov.uk

Stroud Village website: www.stroudvillage.co.uk

Village Hall: Rachel Goodchild Swan 264150

7

STROUD IN A REGIONAL

CONTEXT

In view of other Roman / Romano-

British sites in the region there is

the possibility of a joint project in-

volving members of Petersfield Ar-

chaeological Group and Liss Archae-

ological Group to include Stroud,

Liss, Colemore, Queen Elizabeth

Country Park and Froxfield within a

circle of investigation. This will start

with a research project to gain a

better understanding of the relation-

ship between all of the Roman mon-

uments within that radius, to give us

a greater insight into the level of

importance of each site and putting

each in a wider regional context.

With regard to Stroud, this could

involve taking a look over the

stream to the south of the Villa site

to establish whether there is a road

running past the south entrance of

the Villa, and if there is a connecting

road running north south from the

entrance. It will also be interesting

to know whether any remains were

not detected by Moray-Williams,

particularly behind the bath-house

and around the north western en-

trance of the Villa. This can be

looked at with geophysics, but some

background archive work will also

be necessary as part of the project.

Within the wider circle of other sites

such as the roman site at Ridge-

hanger Lane, a possible banjo en-

closure (so called because of its

banjo-like shape) and the nearby

bank and ditch system known as the

Froxfield entrenchments, as well as

the Roman site in the Queen Eliza-

beth Country Park, can also be re-

searched. It would be good to able

to see if there is a road connection

from the Stroud and Liss sites up

over the South Downs towards the

Roman site at Colemore.

As part of this investigation one of

the immediate areas of research

would be to create a photographic

record and survey of the sites as

they currently look. Some compari-

son can then be made with some of

the sites that are mentioned in the

Williams-Freeman 1915 edition of

‘Fieldwork in Hampshire’.

There is a farm to the north of the

Roman villa which may have an Iron

Age connection. This could be inves-

tigated as another possible banjo

enclosure to establish any possible

connection it has to Stroud.

As part of this research area it will

also be necessary to look at the

STEEP AND STROUD NEWS

8

more recent past and investigate

the size and siting of the brickworks

and the prisoner of war camp that

existed in Stroud during WWII.

With regard to the geophysical in-

vestigation, initial contact has been

made with both English Heritage to

gain permission and to Liss mem-

bers to help with the Geophysical

aspect of the investigation. Once the

requisite permissions have been

acquired a date can then be fixed.

It will be an exciting, wide-ranging

piece of research that can involve a

great deal of participation and from

it we can expect to gain a much

greater idea of what has been going

on in our district in the past.

Jeremy Mitchell would also like to

hear from anyone interested in as-

sisting in the project when it gets

going, and further details will also

be published on the village website

in due course.

With thanks to Peter Price

(Petersfield Archaeological Group)

who wrote most of this article.

STEEP FLOWER SHOW. 30TH

AUGUST 2015

The Flower Show may still be be four

months away but it is time to start

planning. There are some changes

to the schedule, and to give you a

chance to start thinking, here are

the details. In the pot plants, pelar-

gonium replaces begonia and in the

novelty section we have a black

flower instead of a green one. In

flower arranging the subjects are,

The Magna Carta (max.60 cm), an

Arrangement in a Teacup, and for

men only an arrangement entitled

"Rugby World Cup". In the Domestic

Section classes 77 to 80 will be an

open French apple flan, a lemon

drizzle cake - round, 4 crumpets and

for men only 4 Welsh cakes.

For photography the three subjects

are Opulence, Time and Trees and

for children 16 years and under,

Summer Holiday.

In the children's classes 104 is re-

placed by a belt, 105 - a decorated

flower pot, 108 - sprouting seeds in

an interesting container and 110 - 6

cheese straws.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Joint Secretaries,

Susie Cave 263702

and Judy Thompson 267362

9

COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S

REPORT FOR APRIL

Hampshire County Council has tak-

en action over the last few months

to help to alleviate the pressures on

the local hospitals by supplying ex-

tra funds to provide additional nurs-

ing home beds, occupational thera-

pists and physiotherapy staff to ac-

celerate recuperation and recovery.

This is on top of extra money for

social care packages. In the last

year the County Council teams dealt

with 14,000 hospital discharges.

However, discharge from hospital is

a very complex problem, which re-

quires a number of agencies work-

ing together.

Despite 700 voluntary redundancies

last year, the County Council had to

employ 900 extra employees be-

cause of work taken on from other

authorities. The Council now com-

pletes some £100 m of external

work a year, which not only helps to

keep the council teams working, but

also gives them a greater variety of

work.

Bill Murphy, who is the managing

director of next Generation Access,

responsible for the provision of su-

perfast broadband in Hampshire,

addressed the County Council last

week. East Hampshire is still the

district with the lowest coverage in

Hampshire, though the coverage

has increased from 62% to 92% in

the last few years and has almost

caught up with the other districts.

Currently the take-up is 19.4%,

which is in the top 5 local authori-

ties in the UK. Take-up is all im-

portant, since when it reaches 30%

that triggers another £2m invest-

ment from BT.

By the end of 2015, 95% of house-

holds will be able to get broadband

and there will be a satellite service

for the 1% of those remotest from

the system. Experiments are contin-

uing for those between these 2 lim-

its with smaller and less complex

connection boxes. There are also

some community self-funding

groups in Hampshire, but they tend

to need a high take-up to be viable.

The Highways Team have recently

brought two high speed patching

machines into the county for the

next 3 months, and they have the

capability to repair a pothole in a

few minutes. In this area they will be

working in Hawkley and Empshott.

Finally, by the time this newsletter is

published, Church Road, Steep

should have been resurfaced.

Vaughan Clarke 268 206

10

STANLEY SPENCER AND STEEP

John Owen’s mention of the artist

Stanley Spencer’s painting in last

month’s newsletter, caused me to

investigate the time that Stanley

spent living in here our village of

Steep.

Born in Cookham, Berkshire, in

1891, Stanley grew to be just 5 feet

2 inches tall, but was very much an

individual, showing artist prowess

from a young age. After a period at

the Slade School of Art, Stanley saw

service in WWI. In 1915 he joined

the Royal Army Medical Corps and

initially was posted to Beaufort Hos-

pital Bristol before being sent to

Macedonia. The sights he met dur-

ing the war filled his head with imag-

es, many of which later appeared in

his art. On his return to Cookham in

1919, Stanley found it difficult to

paint after his experiences.

He spent time painting in a boat

house belonging to the Slessors at

Bourne End, near Cookham and

then Stanley was invited by the war

artist Muirhead Bone to stay in

Steep. Muirhead Bone was an artist

himself, but he also acted as an

agent in commissioning work and

encouraging young artists. In Steep,

Bone lived at the junction of Ashford

Lane and Island Farm Lane, in a

house named Byways, which still

exists today. Stanley was offered the

sum of £120 to teach Muirhead

Bone’s son Stephen to paint. He

was also offered £250 to paint mu-

rals at the newly completed Steep

Village Memorial Hall. There was the

possibility of a further commission

for work at Bedales School. Stanley

duly arrived in July 1921 and stayed

with Muirhead Bone’s family until

December. While there, Stanley pro-

duced three drawings of music clas-

ses taking place in the Lupton Hall

at Bedales, intended as part of a

decorative scheme for the school.

Stanley was intensely inquisitive

and he also enjoyed talking at

length about himself and his ideas.

As a result he may perhaps have

become a little wearying as a house

guest. Matters came to a head in

the Bone household when Stanley

spotted on the hall table a post card

addressed to the Bone family. He

couldn’t resist having a look at it

and found that the card was from

artist Francis Dodd inviting the

Bones to visit Oxford and asking

them to bring Stanley with them.

Perhaps it was the last of a string of

incidents, as Mrs Bone was not

pleased by Stanley’s inquisitiveness,

accusing him of pilfering her mail.

Stanley was thus asked to leave the

Bone household. He was horrified by

the prospect of supporting himself,

but duly found lodgings elsewhere in

Steep, with a Mrs New.

11

The 1911 census lists Walter New

and his wife Elizabeth as living at

Blenheim House, in what is now

Church Road. This house is almost

opposite Steep Village Hall, where

Stanley had been promised a com-

mission. If Mrs New was still living at

this same house in 1921, it would

seem a convenient place for Stanley

to lodge while he undertook the Vil-

lage Hall painting. During his time in

Steep he worked on another paint-

ing entitled ‘The Unveiling of

Cookham War Memorial’. In a letter,

he punned, “I am still steeped in the

war memorial picture.” He also pro-

duced a Crucifixion painting, which

would have formed part of a group

at Steep Village Hall. Perhaps the

money offered was not considered

sufficient for a series of paintings in

the Steep Hall. Sadly both this and

the Bedales scheme came to noth-

ing after the falling out with the

Bone family.

Stanley eventually left Steep and

moved to Petersfield, first to live

with Flora Twort in her house above

a bookshop, then to 19 The High

Street (now Ask restaurant) and

then to 25 The Square. By the end

of 1922 he seems to have left the

area, yet he had liked the atmos-

phere of the town and in 1926, did

a painting entitled ‘The Poultry Mar-

ket’ based on that at Petersfield.

Later Stanley was commissioned by

Louis and Mary Behrend to paint the

magnificent murals at the Sandham

Memorial Chapel at Burghclere,

Berkshire, a memorial to Mary’s

brother, Lt. Henry Willoughby Sand-

ham, who had died in WWI. For

these, he used ideas he had worked

on for the Steep Hall. It is these for

which Stanley is often most well

known. He went on to produce a

number of paintings both religious

and secular,

including a se-

ries on ship

building on the

Clyde. He died

in 1959. Many

find his work

insp i r a t iona l .

Yet for those of us who remain in

Steep, we can but wonder what if

our village hall had also become the

recipient of his murals too…..

Information here obtained from a

Petersfield Museum talk given in

2014 by Chrissie Rosenthal, custo-

dian of the Spencer Gallery,

Cookham. Thanks to Ruth Whiting

for census details.

Fran Box

12

SOUTH DOWNS NATIONAL PARK

THE DARK SKIES CAMPAIGN

This year Steep Parish Council has

invited Dan Oakley, the Dark Skies

Ranger from the South Downs Na-

tional Park to speak at the Annual

Parish Assembly about the bid to

make the South Downs an Interna-

tional Dark Skies Reserve.

With settlements like Lewes, Bright-

on and Chichester casting a glow in

the sky each night, you might think

the South Downs are not the place

to enjoy a nocturnal star show. How-

ever, the South Downs shield the

north of the National Park from

these towns’ lights, and anyone who

has driven the wooded lanes around

Bepton and Petworth on a moonless

night knows how dark it gets. On

the likes of Butser Hill and Black-

down, amateur astronomers regular-

ly set up their telescopes to explore

night skies considered some of the

best in the country.

With this in mind, the South Downs

National Park set out in 2013 to

create an International Dark Skies

Reserve hoping to join the likes of

Big Island in Hawaii and wilderness

regions in Canada in being recog-

nised by the International Dark

Skies Association for the quality of

our night skies. Where the other

reserves are known for their remote-

ness however, the South Downs

National Park will be the first found

so close to towns and cities.

SDNPA started by asking residents

to look up on clear nights and see if

they could spot certain astronomical

sights that serve as markers of a

truly dark sky. They were also asked

to record the status of nocturnal

lighting in their area, so that ways

could be explored of removing un-

necessary artificial glare from the

night sky, without making it harder

to see on the ground. Some of

these improvements will soon be

underway, such as replacing street

lamp bulbs with LEDs that don’t cast

their light upwards.

As well as bringing galaxies and neb-

ulae back into view, it is hoped to

help the bats, birds, moths and oth-

er nocturnal species that depend on

darkness for survival. They are often

disoriented by too much light and

their hunt for food may get dis-

turbed. A darker sky will be one not

only filled with stars, but wildlife too.

13

14

STEEP PARISH COUNCIL

Simon Bridger - I am 42, and mar-

ried with 3 young chil-

dren. I have lived and

farmed at Ashford Farm

for 17 years, where we

have cattle, sheep, pigs, free range

turkeys and geese, which we supply

to local customers. As the farm is

spread between Steep and Steep

Marsh, this places me in an ideal

position to represent both communi-

ties. I believe in protecting and pre-

serving the beautiful countryside in

which we live and building a strong,

united community where we look out

for our neighbours.

Terry Cook - I have lived,

farmed and worked

here at Oakhurst Farm

for 48 years, milking

cows and, more recent-

ly, with beef and sheep.

I have served on the Parish Council

for 34 years and have always been

proud to do so. I have a special in-

terest in planning and landscape

issues which affect our village, with

involvement in the Village Design

Statement, the Parish Plan, Ashford

Hangers and the Common. Social

activities include the Film Club, Bon-

fire Night and, in the past, the New

Year’s Day Walk and lunch.

Peter Cruttenden – I have

lived in Steep since 1984

and served as Parish Coun-

cillor for a total of eight years.

My experience (past and current) in-

cludes senior financial management

with IBM; trustee-ship of a national

charity; and board roles with of a num-

ber of housing associations and within

the NHS. I care about our community

and its exceptional landscape, having

worked on both the Village Design

Statement and the Parish Plan. I am

committed to working for a community

consensus on matters of importance

for our future.

Graeme Fairley – I have

lived in Steep for 20

years, most of that time

as a daily commuter to

London working for Shell.

My contribution to village life to date

includes helping with the Steep Film

Society and being on the organising

committee of the Steep & Stroud

Golf Society. Now that I am retired I

have more time to focus on the local

community and I would like to have

the opportunity to serve on the Par-

ish Council in order to help maintain

and improve our wonderful village.

Nick Hurst - Living in Steep

Marsh since 1992, I am

standing for re-election to

the parish council following

my initial, enjoyable and

productive first term. The IT portfolio is

15

under my remit, and Steep PC has

migrated to a secure, parish-based

email communications system. I have

taken an active part in local events

and was instrumental in the formation

of the Steep Marsh Residents Associa-

tion. I was pleased and proud to ac-

cept a role in the development and

delivery of the Steep Village Design

Statement to EHDC. Married to a lo-

cal; I am a project manager in the IT

industry. I enjoy competitive sailing.

Jim MacDonald – I have lived in

Steep with my wife for

the last 18 years where

we have raised our two

daughters, who both at-

tended the village school

and nursery. I worked on the Village

Design Statement and the more

recent Village Plan. I have been a

Parish Councillor for the last four

years and have been vice-chair and

chair of the planning sub-committee

for the past two. I love walking and

cycling and I’m passionate about our

beautiful parish.

Jenny Martin - I have lived in Church

Road, Steep for more

than 30 years and been a

Parish Councillor for 8. I

enjoy riding my horse and

walking the dogs around

our lovely village. As a councillor

I’ve been involved in bringing about

a number of improvements to the

area’s footpaths and bridleways. I’ve

co-organised and participated in

volunteer days in and around the

hangers. I’d love to see a reduction

in the traffic in Church Road.

Luke Spurdle – I have personally lived

in Steep Marsh for 13 years while

family members have lived

in the same house for the

last 38 years. I work in IT

within the financial indus-

try in London. I have been

attending Parish Council meetings for

the last year as a member of the pub-

lic, this has given me the interest to

stand for election. I am keen to contin-

ue the work towards the maintenance

of roads around Steep and Steep

Marsh.

Peter Thackrey – I have been living

and working in Steep for the past

three years and I enjoy

living in our community

immensely. I teach

French and Russian at

Bedales School and I live on the

Bedales campus. I am involved with

the Steep & Stroud Golf Society, I

attend All Saints Church where my

wife leads the choir and I love ex-

ploring different parts of the Parish

on walks with my retired greyhound.

I am keen to play an active role sup-

porting our community through serv-

ing on the Parish Council.

16

In order to make communications

between the Parish Council and lo-

cal residents easier, the Council

plans to trial the use of Twitter over

the summer. The village already has

a Twitter account, known as a

'handle' (@steepvillage), but there is

very little usage, with only twenty or

so 'followers'.

Twitter can be used to send out very

short messages (or “tweets”) from

the Council to everyone who is a

follower. These could include notice

of upcoming events or information

on topical matters. We hope to start

in May with at least one tweet per

week. However, messages can be

also be sent to the village Twitter

'handle' by residents (or any follow-

er) about, for example, broken

stiles or issues with roads or foot-

paths. The relevant Parish Council-

lor would see the message and

could respond swiftly. There are

likely to be further benefits if the

trial is successful and the number

of followers increases significantly.

We would like as many people as

possible to take part in this trial. If

you have a Twitter account, then all

you have to do is follow

@steepvillage. If not, then you can

sign up very easily (and at no cost)

at www.twitter.com using your PC,

tablet device or smartphone. If you

have any questions on this, please

contact Ray Street (Village webmas-

ter) on 01730 892656.

IT’S SPRINGTIME – LISTEN TO THE TWEETING……!

17

WHITE HORSE WALKS 2015

On Sunday 3rd of May bring the

family along to the White Horse

Walks 2015 and enjoy a day of fun

and exercise at the beautifully locat-

ed White Horse Inn (also known as

the Pub With No Name) at Priors

Dean, near Petersfield – and it’s all

in aid of The Rosemary Foundation.

There will be breakfast, soft drinks,

tea and coffee available from 9am

if you need sustenance before you

set off.

The day commences with a choice

of three walks through the sur-

rounding countryside to suit all ages

and abilities; a 2-mile Toddle along

a pushchair-friendly route for young-

sters accompanied by an adult, a 6-

mile Stroll for walkers with slightly

longer legs and a 10-mile Trek for

those who really wish to stride out.

All walks will be guided and start

times are staggered to ensure that

everyone gets back to the Inn by

early afternoon.

Start times

10 mile trek – 10.00am

6 mile stroll - 11.00am

2 mile toddle – 12.00 noon

On return from the walks, local

band Rehab will be playing at

lunchtime whilst the White Horse

serves up a BBQ and drinks. Later

in the evening the Trevor John Band

will be playing. There will be an out-

side bar and plenty of camping

space for those who would like to

make a weekend of it. So make

sure that the 3rd of May is firmly

pencilled in your diary.

This year the aim is to raise money

for The Rosemary Foundation. Pre-

vious White Horse events have

raised over £10,000 for cancer-

related charities. As in previous

years, this year’s event is expected

to be popular. Entries in advance

are £10 per person or £12 on the

day (half price for children of 15

and under), which includes food

and a drink at the finish.

For entry forms please see either

www.pubwithnoname.co.uk or

www.rosemary-foundation.org.uk

18

EASTER

We had a wider range of services

over Easter compared with previous

years. At 2.00 pm on Good Friday we

marked at All Saints’ the last hour of

Jesus’ crucifixion and death as por-

trayed in John’s Gospel. The altar

was stripped bare down to the wood

and the Vicar explained how John

describes the occasion very differ-

ently from the other three Gospels.

There is no Simon of Cyrene helping

to carry the Cross and by embracing

death willingly Jesus becomes the

victor and not a victim.

On Easter Saturday there was an

evening Easter communion at

Stroud. The Vicar commented that

this Saturday is commonly known as

the sandwich day as it fills the void

between the dramatic events lead-

ing up to Good Friday and Easter

Sunday itself. Because of the void

with no historic action to commemo-

rate many churches do not have any

services on this day.

Then everything changed on Easter

Sunday. The altar coverings were

reinstated and All Saints’ was full of

flowers with the soft spring colours

of green, yellow and white predomi-

nating. The external arch over the

main door offered a very pretty wel-

come. The church was also full of

people with approximately 165 at-

tending. Unlike 2014 when there

was a torrential rain storm during

the service 2015 provided a balmy,

spring day and after the service

many of the congregation were able

to enjoy a glass of sparkling wine

outside in the churchyard in the sun-

shine. It was a very happy occasion.

The children were kept very busy

after the service hunting for Easter

Crosses that had been hidden all

around the southern part of the

churchyard. Many a hiding place

was found up a tree, behind a shrub

or even inside the cavern of the an-

cient yew and once all were found

there was of course a reward! This

gave parents the chance to socialise

in the sunshine with friends new and

old and enjoy the beautiful setting

that the churchyard provides.

We are very grateful to so many peo-

ple and particularly our flower ex-

perts with their mastery of beauty

through colour combinations who

worked so hard to make the Easter

festival so memorable and moving.

CHURCH NEWS

19

SUNDAY, 12 APRIL

VOX CANTAB

We were delighted that Vox Cantab,

a six person choir from Cambridge

under the direction of Louisa Denby,

were able to include the 10.30 Par-

ish Communion at All Saints’ in their

local tour. The service was enriched

both by their singing, including the

Gloria In Excelsis in Latin, and also

when they augmented the rest of

the congregation.

THE RUSSIAN LYRA SINGERS –

THURSDAY, 14 MAY – 7.30 PM

Subject to final confirmation in re-

spect of their visas the Russian Lyra

ensemble from St. Petersburg have

agreed to entertain us again on As-

cension Day, Thursday, 14 May at

7.30 pm in All Saints’ with a mixture

of sacred music, opera and Russian

folk songs.

Entry is free and please make every

effort to fill the church and to give

them a good audience.

STEEP LECTURE – SUNDAY, 14

JUNE AT 6.00 PM FOR 6.30

This year’s Steep lecture will be giv-

en in All Saints’ on Sunday, 14 June

at 6.00 pm for 6.30. The speaker

will be Sir Robert Francis, QC and

the lecture is entitled “Healing the

sick and doing no harm – 21st cen-

tury challenges for doctors and pa-

tients”. Sir Robert is very well known

for his hard hitting report into the

excessive number of deaths in the

mid Staffordshire hospital scandal

and his more recent report into

whistle blowing in the NHS. Sir Rob-

ert is also a local resident with a

house in Froxfield.

The format is unchanged from earli-

er years. Entry is by ticket only which

gives us a better idea in advance of

likely numbers but the tickets are

free and can be obtained from Rich-

ard Smith (267701), George Tullis

(262721), David Dobson (261344),

Owen Jonathan (231500) and Geof-

frey Dale (894570).

Refreshments will be supplied from

6.00 pm before the start of the lec-

ture at 6.30 and there will be a retir-

ing collection for church funds.

TED BONES

Finally a thank you to someone who

does a huge amount for the church

all the year round but largely behind

the scenes. Ted Bones has acted as

sidesman at the eight o’clock com-

munion services for the last fifteen

years. He is usually the first volun-

teer to act as sidesman at funerals

while in the churchyard he put up all

the fencing along the footpath and

led the way a number of years ago in

clearing vicious brambles.

20

CHURCH DUTIES FOR MAY

Sunday 3rd May – 10.30 AAE –

sidesmen: Mileham family, chalice:

A McConville, coffee: A Greenlee & B

Silk

Sunday 10th May 10.30 PC. Sides-

men D.and J.Dobson. Chalice

J.Selby. Server Selby Family. Coffee

M.and J.Thompson

Sunday 17th May – 6.30 EP sides-

man: R Smith

Sunday 24th May – 10.30 PC:

sidesmen: C & R Reed, chalice: H

Granlund, server: Orringe family,

coffee: S Orringe & L Young, inter-

cessions: J Thompson

Sunday 31st May Trinity Sunday –

Open Air Service at Lords Farm,

Sheet.

Susi Openshaw and Geoffrey Dale

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK

Everyone is warmly invited to a tradi-

tional Coffee Morning at Tithe Barn,

102 Church Road on Tuesday 12th

May between 10 and 12 to raise

funds to support Christian Aid. This

is in place of a Christian Aid Week

house-to-house collection. Everyone

can contribute via modern and tradi-

tional media.

www.christian aid.org.uk gets you to

the main Christian Aid website with

links to make a donation as well as

giving information about the work or

the organisation. It would be really

helpful if you could make a regular

donation but all forms of contribu-

tion can be made including by tele-

phone and text. Cheques can be

sent to FREEPOST Christian Aid (no

stamp required). Please gift aid your

donation if you can. Envelopes will

be available at the coffee morning

and in the churches if needed.

The featured country this year is

Ethiopia. Working with churches

and communities the charity seeks

out those in need. In Ethiopian cul-

ture women without cattle lose sta-

tus and care by their community.

Christian Aid provides a goat or a

cow, which in turn hopefully pro-

vides income for the woman and

hopefully another cow or goat for

another recipient. This is only one

example of many where pro-

grammes alleviate poverty and deal

with disasters caused by weather or

conflict. Please be generous for this

global charity.

David Storey

THE LAST WORD – Tombstone wit

Here under this sod and under

these trees Is buried the body of

Solomon Pease.

But here in this hole lies only his

pod;

His soul is shelled out and gone up

to God.

Falkirk, Scotland

21

ADVERTISING IN THIS NEWSLETTER AND VILLAGE WEBSITE If you would like to advertise please contact Ray Street on 892656 or

email steepweb@hotmail.co.uk

Village website: www.steepvillage.com

Steep to Petersfield Bus Service 71

Enquiries call 01962 846786

Wednesdays and Fridays at : Return

Steep, Bedales School 09:35 Petersfield Tesco 12:27

Petersfield Hospital 09:42 Petersfield Square 12:30

Petersfield Railway Station 09:45 Petersfield Railway Station 12:33

Petersfield Square 09:48 Petersfield Hospital 12:35

Petersfield Tesco 09.51 Steep, Bedales School 12:42

22

Oil fired boiler specialists

Servicing, Repairs and Installations

Central Heating Upgrades

Fully Insured & Registered with Oftec

01730 823355

07920 558046

info@adeptplumbingservices.co.uk

Traditional

Blacksmith

No job too small

Mobile: 07847 005956

Tel: 01730 893752

Email:

fraughtwrought@btinternet.com

Forge: unit C1, the brickyard,

Steep Marsh

23

FMB

24

25

All aspects of tree work carried out.

Fast, reliable and efficient service.

Free quotation and expert advice

Tel: 07587 955 770

www.scetreesurgery.co.uk

26

27

28

Vicar: John Owen 264282 revjohnowen@gmail.com

Assistant Priest: Joanna Farrell 828450

Assistant Curate: Chris Prior-Jones 894040

Reader: Caroline Hilton 263460

Churchwarden: Geoffrey Dale 894570

Churchwarden: Suzi Openshaw 231697

Church website: http://steepfroxfield.com

Parish Communion Services are in modern language

Early Sunday Services are from the Book of Common Prayer

STEEP - Every Thursday: Silent Prayer 6.30pm; Holy Communion 7pm

Choir Practice: Saturdays before Parish Communion 9:30 am

Sunday School: During Parish Communion except during school holidays

3rd May - 5th Sunday of Easter

8am Holy Communion at Steep

9.30am Parish Communion at High Cross

10.30am All Age Eucharist at Steep

10th May - 6th Sunday of Easter (Rogation)

8.30am Holy Communion at Stroud

10am Rogation Service, Froxfield Green

10.30am Parish Communion at Steep

Thursday 14th May – Ascension Day

8 am Reading & Prayers, Holy Trinity bell-tower, Privett

10 am Holy Communion at Froxfield Green

7.30pm Ascension Day Concert in Steep with LYRA, from

St Petersburg, Russia

17th May - 7th Sunday of Easter

8am Holy Communion at Steep

9.30am Parish Communion at High Cross

11am Ignite at Froxfield Village Hall

6.30pm Evening Prayer at Steep

24th May - Pentecost (Whit Sunday)

8.30am Holy Communion at Stroud

9.30am Morning Prayer at Froxfield Green

10.30am Parish Communion at Steep

31st May - Trinity Sunday (5th Sunday)

8am Holy Communion at Steep

11am Open Air Service at Lord’s Farm, Sheet for the

22nd Annual Vintage Event

6.30pm Patronal Eucharist at Holy Trinity, Privett,

followed by refreshments

CHURCH SERVICES IN STEEP, STROUD & FROXFIELD