THE CHASE BENEFICE PARISH MAGAZINE FEBRUARY - 2021 CHETTLE

THE CHASE
               BENEFICE
                PARISH
              MAGAZINE
CHETTLE       FEBRUARY
                 2021

  GUSSAGE
 ALL SAINTS      FARNHAM

TOLLARD
                  GUSSAGE
 ROYAL
               SAINT MICHAEL

THE CHASE BENEFICE

  RECTOR. Vacancy . Please contact the Benefice Administrator or The Rural Dean,
                 The Rev’d Justin Pottnger 01929 459244
                      Retired Priests with Licence to Officiate
                       The Rev’d Paul Renyard 01202 682460
                       The Rev’d John Graves 01202 669808
                       The Rev’d Paul Skinner 01725 552785

                       Parish Staff Local Licensed Ministers
       Canon Simon Tong. Bridge House. Gussage St Michael.        01258 840061
       Mrs Carol Neilson, ‘Dormers’, Tarrant Hinton, DT11 8JB. 01258 830876
       Mrs Pat Harris. 36 Holland Way. Blandford. DT11 7RU        01258 452863
      Mr Robin Bragg. China Cottage, Tarrant Gunville. DT11 8JR 01258 830941

                              Benefice Administrator:

Mrs Gill Baverstock, telephone 01725 516311, email gill.baverstock@hotmail.co.uk

        Magazine Editor           Items for inclusion in the       Advertisements
        Mr Bob McCarthy          March 2021 magazine copy to
        Culpepper House                  the editor by             Mrs Jane Benson
        Gussage All Saints         12th February please.            Amen Corner
              Wimborne               Opinions expressed           Gussage All Saints
            BH21 5ET               in articles submitted for          BH21 5ET
                                   publication are personal       Tel: 01258 840824
        Tel: 01258 840168
                                      to the contributors.   Gussagegardener@gmail.com
 bobandwendymccarthy@gmail.com

PASTORAL LETTER

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
As I write, we have just entered a new year, a new decade, and many people
are asking, ‘Where do we go from here? Where will we go? What will we do?
What will happen to us? How will Brexit affect us? How secure is my job?
How will I feed the family? How can I stay safe in this pandemic?’ Not many
concerns then!! Maybe, by the time you read this, the Covid vaccination
programme will be well under way.
A new year is like a blank sheet of paper - the story and events are yet to
unfold. Life is very uncertain re the economy, our health. There are many
concerns about church reorganisation in this benefice and deanery, but also
across the nation as a whole.
The social structures which have anchored us have been removed as a result of
the pandemic. We have been denied the human contact and fellowship we’ve
so long for. We can’t wait to see and hug our children, grandchildren and
friends. People of faith or none are looking for an anchor. Many feel anxious,
depressed and deprived, in need of someone to lift their burden, to offer hope.
Many struggle to see light at the end of the tunnel. But, Christ is our light,
Christ is our hope, Christ is our anchor. Peter (I Peter 5v7) writes, ‘Cast all
you care upon him (Christ) for he cares for you.’
In World War II (1939) King George VI quoted from Minnie Haskins poem,
‘The Gate of the Year’:
And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’
And he replied:
‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.
So I went forth, and finding the hand of God, trod gladly into the night.
May each one of us be able to do just that.

Pat Harris LLM

Due to Covid restrictions we are once again distributing The Chase Benefice
Parish Magazine electronically. It gives an opportunity to inform you of what
has happened, future plans and the local services that are available. We hope
that you enjoy it and we will be back to paper format when circumstances
allow. Keep safe and healthy.

WORSHIP IN THE CHASE BENEFICE DURING FEBRUARY 2021

During the current Covid lockdown, the government is allowing churches to
be open for communal worship. After weighing up the situation, the churches
in the Chase Benefice have decided jointly not to open their churches for
services during January and February. However some of the churches in the
Benefice do remain open to individuals for private prayer and contemplation.
The situation will be kept under review.

How can I access worship at the moment?

There are a number of ways:

Simon Tong is leading a short act of worship on Zoom on Sundays. The time
   of broadcast may vary. If you wish to join the service, please email Simon
   so that he can email you the link and service time each week.
   simon@sandrtong.co.uk
You can join the national online services, streamed at 9am each Sunday.
   They are also available online afterwards.
https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/church-online
You can listen to a Sunday service on Radio 4 at 8.10am
Songs of Praise is broadcast on BBC television on a Sunday, usually at
   1.15pm but sometimes they change the time, so check the TV schedule.
The Church of England Phone Church may suit you. Daily Hope offers
  music, prayers and reflections as well as full worship services at the end of
  a telephone line – and the call is free! The line is available 24 hours a day
  on 0800 804 8044.

As we carry on with life under the threat of Covid, it’s easy to feel that
life is pretty negative, so here are a couple of thoughts:

“Positive anything is better than negative nothing”.
                                   Elbert Hubbard – writer and philosopher

“Positive thinking is more than just a tagline. It changes the way we behave.
And I firmly believe that when I am positive, it not only makes me better, but
it also makes those around me better”.
                                 Harvey Mackay – author and columnist

VILLAGE NEWS
                                          CHETTLE
                           News gatherer Rosamond Sweet-Escott
                       rosamond.sweetescott@gmail.com 07786 920991.

Evensong 24th January 2021
We are very sorry to have to announce that we are no longer able to hold this
service at St Mary’s Chettle due to matters outside our control. We will
endeavour to arrange a service as soon as possible.
The Church Wardens

Chettle Store
We are still open for business (even when the signs come down). Monday-
Saturday from 8.30am to 6.00pm and Sunday from 9.00am to 1.00pm.
To reiterate our lockdown rules:
- Card payments only
- 1 person in the shop at a time, or 2 people from the same household
- Wear a mask & use our hand sanitiser on entry
- The toilet is for staff only (we do not have enough man-power to clean it
every time - sorry)

Thank you for supporting our little shop. For regular updates follow us on
Facebook and Instagram.

                                          FARNHAM
                                 News gatherer Mrs Gill Baverstock
                          gill.baverstock@hotmail.co.uk 01725 51631

Christmas in retrospect
We may have felt short-changed without all the bells and whistles associated
with the Christmas season but, despite the Covid regulations, Christmas still
happened: Although we couldn’t all come together, we were still able to
celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Some parishioners felt able to come to the
church on the evening of Sunday 20th December, when we held a service of
Music and Readings for Christmas. Our thanks go to everyone who
participated in that event, either reading, singing and/or playing. We are
grateful to the flower arrangers who carried on regardless and provided us
with such lovely arrangements.

Whilst the PCC decided not to have a Christmas tree in the church, the crib
scene has been on display since Christmas morning. The wise men who had
been journeying through the church to visit the Holy Child, arrived at
Epiphany and now the nativity scene remains in the church until Candlemas
on 2nd February, to remind us of Christ’s coming and presence with us.

Farnham Church Opening. Whilst the latest Covid lockdown allows
churches to be open for public worship, the PCC has discussed the situation
and feel that, to play our part in protecting friends and neighbours, it is unwise
to gather together in church at the moment. Whilst we also closed the church
to private prayer for a brief spell, at the 12th January PCC meeting, we agreed
that it was important to be open for anyone who wishes to go into church for
prayer or contemplation. Thus, the church is unlocked from 9am until dusk.
Please follow the Covid regulations and guidance to enable the church to
remain a safe space. The PCC is keeping the situation under review.

From the Parish Council about CENSUS 2021
Households across Dorset along with the rest of England & Wales will be
asked to take part in a Census on Sunday March 21st. They take place every
ten years. This census is for everyone & will provide the information needed
to help ensure our communities are well served. Getting the best possible
response rates means that decisions are based on accurate high-quality data.
The Census will be run predominately online with households receiving a
letter in early March with a unique access code allowing them to complete the
questionnaire on their computers, phones or tablets. Those residents who are
unable to complete the Census digitally will be supported by a phone helpline,
a network of Census Support Centres or by ordering a paper Census. Your
Councilors too are here to help, so please contact us if you have any queries or
need assistance in filling out the questionnaire. There is more information on
the notice board and you can visit census.gov.uk
Penny Everard, Chair of Farnham Parish Council 01725 516924

Looking ahead
With so many events having been cancelled in 2020, the PCC has been
looking at which social and fundraising events might be possible during 2021.
The Barn Dance, originally scheduled for 4 July 2020, had been postponed
until 3 July 2021. Currently this is still in the diary and if Covid conditions
allow we could carry on with that event then but, if that is not feasible, it may
need to be deferred for a further year. It is intended that the Open Gardens
event will take place in early June 2022. If the Barn Dance is postponed until
2022 then we plan to run both the Open Gardens and the Barn Dance in that
same year, one in early June and the other in early July. The next Street Fair
will have a date in August 2023. If you have any ideas to contribute on the
scheduling or organisation of these events or would like to help set them up,
then please contact a Farnham PCC Member (Gill Baverstock, Tim Tustin,
Roger Newenham).

News from the Allotments
It’s that time of year again when the wind is blowing the rain horizontally
across the allotments, the fingers are frozen and thoughts move to the fireside
and the seed catalogues. Time to prepare for the season ahead. Old favourites
and new crops and varieties to experiment with, what delights will the
forthcoming season bring?

The Allotment Association will continue with its usual programme of events,
amended and adapted to fit with whatever the government Covid guidelines
are. Even with the roll out of a number of vaccines, it’s not over until it’s
over, whenever that maybe.

In the meantime, there will be a plant and produce sale on the Winklebury
driveway in May, but before that, keep an eye out for chitted potatoes and
enter our “Spud in a Bag” competition, £3 per Spud and Bag. Entry deadline
by the end of April and judging in August. After the success of the last couple
of years, this is an absolute must for any aspiring gardener or anyone who just
fancies having a go.

Throughout the growing season we intend to keep the “Winklebury Table”
stocked with fresh produce from the allotments and any surplus others may
wish to contribute. It’s a great way to distribute nature’s bounty and cut down
on food miles, as well as servicing the local community. Incidentally, it also
helps fund the running costs of the allotments, a valuable local amenity.

Whilst the Allotments are currently fully subscribed, if you are interested in
obtaining a plot this year or in the future, please contact Ed Sadd on 01725
516348 or edwin.sadd@btinternet.com, or a note through the letterbox of
Winklebury Cottage.

Stay safe, stay well and enjoy the big outdoors.

50 Club winners
January: 1st – Henry Peterson; 2nd – Kris Taylor; 3rd –John Benjafield.

TOLLARD ROYAL
                                News gatherer Alexandra Thomas
                            Rhodri.Alex@btinternet.com 01725 516320

There were three Services held during December, a Family Service, a
Celebration of Words and Music for Christmas, and Holy Communion on
Christmas Day, and our thanks go to those who made this possible. Sadly,
services in January were cancelled and February’s services will be cancelled
too. The Church is now shut during the week, however at 10.00am on Sunday
mornings a bell will be rung and Prayers read and the church will then be open
for prayer for the rest of the day. There will be a review for our services in
March going forward.

Thanks go to all the flower ladies who decorated the Church for the Festive
season so beautifully, and made our services so much more special, and feel
nearer “normal”.

A Funeral Service was held for Rita Wardall in the Church on
17th December. Rita and her family lived in Tollard Royal for many years in
Glebe House. Her husband Peter was a Churchwarden and is also buried in the
Churchyard.

52 Club Winners
November
Chris Kitching 1st prize
Anita Trappitt 2nd prize
December
Adrian Jones 1st prize
Peter Turner 2nd prize

Very many ‘Congratulations’ to Dulcie & George in Gordon Cottage on the
safe arrival of their beautiful baby daughter Zara.

We would also like to welcome Peter & Anna to the village. They have
recently moved into the Cottage on the Green. We hope they will be very
happy here.

GUSSAGE SAINT MICHAEL
                                 News gatherer Mr Stephen Mills
                           stevemillsdorset@hotmail.com 01725 552454

Village Website www.gussagesaintmichael.co.uk checkout the website to see
what's going on in your village.

Christmas Celebrations in Gussage St Michael
Christmas in Gussage St Michael started with a draw for two bumper
Christmas Hampers. Very many thanks to all those who took part. There
was a very good response and the draw raised £680. The lucky winners were
Judy Masterman (Gussage All Saints) and John Edwards (Cashmoor). Many
thanks to Helen and Vic Hatton for providing the hampers and Helen for all
her work, with Rosemary Tong, in making this happen.

The Church: The Church was floodlit for the whole of Advent. Because of
the restrictions on church services, the crib was placed in the Church porch
and was lit up for all to see. The Christmas tree was lit up in the churchyard
and made an excellent venue for some socially distanced Carol Singing (in
the rain!). Over 20 singers braved the weather and were fortified with mulled
wine, Christmas cake and mince pies.

Midnight Mass was celebrated for over 20 people with the Rev’d Robert
Prance officiating and carol singing by Chris King and Els Riley to welcome
in Christmas Day. St Michael’s congregation then joined All Saints for a
Christmas morning service, led by Canon Simon Tong and relayed on Zoom
to a wider congregation.

Gussage St Michael 100 Club: November winners: 1st Els Riley; 2nd Linda
Waterfield; 3rd Neil Riley. December winners: 1st Pat Cooper; 2nd David Hall;
3rd Mary Mills. Congratulations to all – and good luck to all subscribers in
2021!

Many thanks to all those who supported me in Cake Making for funds to
repair the Church roof, so far the amount raised is £175. I am still taking
orders so please contact me 01258 840792 for any future orders. Thank you
for your support,                                     Hilary Pond.

Plant Sales
Thank you to all of you fellow gardeners who purchased our plants last year.
We need to raise a very substantial sum towards the repairs to our Church
roof and hope that you might support us again in 2021.

We have been propagating since the late Summer and we will have many of
your favourite Dahlias, Pelargoniums and Salvias available from early
Summer. We have lists of these if you are looking for something specific and
you would like to order in advance. Telephone us on 01258 840671 or e-mail
us at helenandvichatton@hotmail.co.uk and we will try to ensure that your
plants are reserved. Additionally, we will have the lovely begonias again
together with many bedding plants.

We are all longing for this interminable Winter to end and for the warmer
Spring weather and some degree of normality to arrive. Keep safe and well.
Helen and Vic.

Wine tasting
Very many thanks to all who supported the Gussage virtual Wine Tasting
event on Saturday 16th January. Over 40 people took part, tasting wines
under expert instruction from Victoria Reynolds, and nibbling canapes
provided by the GSM team. Thanks to the support and to some generous
donations, the event raised £600 towards the major repairs of the Church
roof. (a most enjoyable Zoom evening; informative, tasty and good fun -
your editor who participated)

                    In Memory of Ann Shirley Friend
                    31st May 1943 – 7th December 2020

Ann was born in Gillingham (Dorset) the only child of Walter and Doris
Peters. She was educated at Gillingham becoming a member of the Grammar
School Tennis team. After leaving school she attended a secretarial course at
Salisbury College and then joined Lloyds Bank, Shaftesbury and later the
Wimborne Branch.

September 1966, she married Ricard Friend and moved to Lower Farm,
Gussage St. Michael. When the bank wanter her to work Saturday’s she left
and became secretary to Mr Michael Pitt-Rivers at Tollard Royal. After a few
years she then went ti work for Claire and John Golden at Middle Chase
Bowerchalk. Her daughter Tracey was born early in the 70’s, followed a
couple of years later by her son Nigel. As the children grew older she
returned to banking, doing relief part time cashiering for Lloyds Bank in the
Bournemouth area, and finally at Kinson until her retirement.

Shortly after moving to Gussage St Michael she joined the village WI and MU
and latterly Holt WI. Through the WI she met Joanne Robinson playing
together at WI tennis tournaments and ann played social tennis ever since with
friends and Joanne’s family, very often twice a week throughout the year.
For about fifteen years she acted as Competition Secretary administering
twenty farm competition classes each year for Holt Agricultural Discussion
Club.

In the late 70’s Ann was for several years an honorary governor of Wimborne
St Giles First School. When Gussage St Michael Hall was modernised Ann
was heavily involved in the fund raising and after completion she became
Honorary Treasurer and a committee member of GSMCHA. By supporting
the hall she joined the “Pickle-Ball” group, Bridge Club, Flower Arranging
meetings and “Spud and Spout” evenings. Ann was an accomplished
needlework person joining a local sewing and craft group.

During the latter years of Kathleen Shephard’s life Ann cared for her welfare
and wellbeing.

She got great pleasure from her three granddaughters who were always such a
joy to her.

In recent years she enjoyed lunches with the Lloyds Bank Retirement group,
ladies of the Holt Natter Club and Gussage Valley Ladies Club.
Richard, Tracey and Nigel were so lucky to have such a wonderful,
supportive, caring wife and mother. They would also like to thank all those
who sent Ann “ Get Well cards, letters and flowers” as well as the many
Sympathy Cards and letters which were sent to the Friend family.

Several years ago Ann expressed the wish that at her passing she should be
cremated and her ashes be interned next to the Ex Ordinance Survey Stone
which lies in a field at the highest point of Lower Farm, Gussage St Michael.
Due to Coronavirus rules it is very difficult to have a funeral, thanksgiving
service or public cremation.
There will be a very private internment of Ann’s ashes early in January 2021.
Donations in memory of Ann can be made to the Salibury Hospice Charity or
The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance C/O : Richard Adlam, Park Cottage,
Sixpenny Handley, Salisbury, Wilts.
RPF

The Gussage Oil Club certainly represents good value for residents of
Gussage St Michael, Gussage All Saints, Bowerswaine. There are still many
villagers still paying higher rates who are not club members - spread the
word! Contact Ian Hanstead - gussageoilclub@hotmail.co.uk He emails the
group once a month and we reply with our order (min 500 litres), price and
delivery is confirmed by email and we pay direct to the supplier after delivery.

                                GUSSAGE ALL SAINTS
                             News gatherer Pauline Dilliway
                        paulineadilliway@gmail.com 01258 840274

Dear Friends
I want to inform that in Gussage All Saints and St Michael it has been decided
not to have services in church until March and we will review this in the
weeks ahead
Simon Tong will be holding zoom services weekly and we have and are
implementing a plan to enable those without zoom facilities to feel part of the
church community with updates and paper contact from the church warden
team and other church members.
We feel that a cold church with vulnerable adults is not the ideal solution and
to worship as a group on zoom somehow seems currently to be the most
advantageous way of praising God and keeping together as a community in
the spirt of Christ.

Kindest regards Chris

We welcome Terry and Caroline Harris-Birtle with their three dogs to
1 Bidcome Cottage. We hope you enjoy our village and look forward to
meeting you at the conclusion of lockdown!

CHURCH WARDENS

                                            ALL SAINTS
Gussage All Saints   Chris Payne                 Southfields              01258 840255

Tarrant Keyneston    Mr Grahame Webb              The Leys                01258 451177
Tarrent Monkton      Mrs Vicky Gumm               East Farm               01258 830240

                                      SAINT LAURENCE
Farnham              Mrs Gill Baverstock.     Sheepfold Cottage           01725 516311
                     Mr Timothy Tustin,       Sarunds House               01725 516385

                                        SAINT MARY
Chettle              Mr David Mordaunt        Saint Mary’s Farmhouse      01258 830791
                     Mrs Elizabeth Mordaunt   Saint Mary’s Farmhouse      01258 830791

Tarrant Hinton       Vacant enquiries to The Administrator; Gill Baverstock 01725 516311

Tarrant Gunville     Mrs Lizzie Patterson                                  01258 830418.

Tarrant Rushton      Mr Nick Harding              Preston Farm            01258 458318
                     Mrs Caroline Tory,           The Orchard,            01258 452452

                                    SAINT MICHAEL
Gussage St Michael Mr Peter Bending        Waterside                      01258 840027
                   Mr Simon Tong           Bridge House                   01258 840061

                                 SAINT PETER AD VINCULA
Tollard Royal        Mrs Jackie Carlyle-Clarke Tollard Green Farm         01725 516323
                     Mrs Catherine Henderson Laburnums                    01725 516353

                              LAY PASTORAL ASSISTANTS
 Tarrant Rushton          Mrs Caroline Tory                               01258 452452