The Welsh Issue - Parish Magazine of St. Stephen's, Hightown March 2021 - St. Stephens Church (Hightown)
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
March 2021
Issue 257
Parish Magazine of St. Stephen’s, Hightown
The Welsh Issue
Editor's le er March 2021
The Welsh Edi on
A happy St. David's day to everyone, and to all who
bear the name, David, a happy feast day. As St David
is the patron saint of Wales, this edition of the
Focus has a definite Welsh flavour.
We have news of our poetry competition, a touching
article from Margaret Bate about her life in Anglesey, a delicious
Welsh recipe, courtesy of Beth, and an informative account of the
life of St.
David. We, also, continue to welcome our new furry family members
as well as hearing about our existing pets. This month we welcome
Mi Fan and can read about Tegen and also Beth, both of whom have
lived in Hightown for a few years. Lovely dogs, all of them. Scroll
down and look at their photographs. Aw!!!
Apparently, in ancient times, the men would use their dogs for
hunting purposes but recent research has shown that it was the
women who brought them into their homes and gave them names.
We know many ancient Egyptian dog names from leather collars
found in tombs. They include names such as Brave One, Reliable,
Good Herdsman, North Wind and even Useless.
As a spring like February gives way to March, we are thankful that
the lighter evenings provide an extra hour of birdsong, hesitant
though it may sound at the moment. At long last, this particularly
difficult winter is drawing to a close and I, for one, am looking
forward to the vernal equinox.
As always, take care,
Colette
Entries for future issues of Focus to:
Focus.Magazine@StStephensHightown.org.uk
If you would like to write about it, we would
love to read it.
St. Stephen’s Church—Hightown Page 2 March 2021
Dear All,
Happy St David’s Day.
While inves'ga'ng St David on the internet, I read this poem and liked it
very much so now I’m sharing it with you.
St David
by David James Jones, who uses the Welsh pen name Gwenallt.
There is no barrier between two worlds in the Church.
The Church militant on earth
Is one with the Church triumphant in heaven,
And the saints are in this Church which is two in one.
They come to worship with us, our small congregation,
The saints our oldest ancestors
Who built Wales on the foundation
Of the Crib, the Cross and the Empty Tomb.
And they go out as before to travel their old ways
And to evangelise Wales.
I have seen Dewi going from shire to shire like the gypsy of God,
With the gospel and the altar in his caravan;
He came to us in the colleges and schools
To show us the purpose of learning.
He went down into the pit with the coal miners
And shone his lamp on the coal face.
He put on the goggles of the steel worker, and the short grey overall
And showed the Christian being purified like metal in the furnace.
He brought the factory people into his disreputable Church
He carried the Church everywhere
Like a body with life and mind and will,
And he did small things and great.
He brought the Church into our homes,
Put the holy vessels on the kitchen table
With bread from the pantry and wine from the cellar,
And he stood behind the table like a tramp
So as not to hide from us the wonder of the sacrifice.
And after the Communion we had a talk round the fire
And he spoke to us of God’s natural order,
St. Stephen’s Church—Hightown Page 3 March 2021
The person, the family, the nation and the society of nations
And the cross which prevents us from making any of them into a god.
He said that God had made our nation
For his own purposes.
One of the reasons I like the poem is, it shows me how God is there in the ordinary - the
factories and mines of Wales and how these are blessed through the extraordinary life of a
saint. Saints are said to be the visible evidence of how God works in the world. We o.en
make the comparison between saints and stained glass windows. The la0er let light shine
through so we can see inside and the former let God shine through so we know more about
what God is like.
This poem pays tribute to the long las'ng effects St David has had on the Welsh people; the
poem describes St David as if he’s there s'll visi'ng ordinary working people in the 20th
century. Despite living in the 6th century, St David is s'll being ‘the gypsy of God’ going
around in his caravan adding wisdom to the people’s lives. He convinces others about the
importance of educa'on and gives an insight into how faith can be compared to the ac'ons
of the steel workers- they are refining their metal and faith purifies our lives.
The poem is wri0en by Gwenallt, (18 May 1899 – 24 December 1968) the pen name of
David James Jones. I think this light shining through so we can see more of God is happening
both in the poem describing St David and also in the life of the poet. Gwenallt was born in
Pontardawe, Glamorganshire, the eldest son of Thomas "Ehedydd" ("lark") Jones and his
wife Mary. Conscripted into the Army in 1917 during World War I, he declared himself a
conscien'ous objector and was imprisoned in Wormwood Scrubs before being transferred
to Princetown Work Centre in the former Dartmoor Prison un'l April 1919. His father was
killed by molten metal in the 'n works, and this had a deep effect on him. In his youth he
regularly a0ended chapel, but later he embraced Marxism. S'll later he changed his
opinions and became a Welsh na'onalist and a Chris'an poet.
Despite what Genallt experienced, his faith seems strong and Chris'an themes are present
in much of his work.
I started off comparing stained glass and saints. I want to finish with another comparison. In
the poem we see God shining through the saint and in the wri'ng of this poem we can see
God shining through the poet. In the poem I’m reminded God is interested in the ordinary
and in the poet I was reminded that despite tragedy in your life God can s'll shine through.
Enjoy your leeks!
Jan - Revd Jan Ashton
St. Stephen’s Church—Hightown Page 4 March 2021
Finish your day with our Lord
Tuesdays and Thursdays in Lent at 9pm
Our Facebook page and our YouTube Channel
St. Stephen’s Church—Hightown Page 5 March 2021
Rev Jan’s Jokes On a Welsh theme, and they all made the vicar laugh! A Russian spy was dropped by parachute in the Welsh hills with instructions to contact a Mr Jones in the small village of Llanfair and give him the coded message: “The tulips are blooming well today.” Arriving at the village he asked a small boy where Mr Jones lived and was directed to a small cottage. He knocked on the door and the owner emerged: “Are you Mr Jones?” “I am.” “The tulips are blooming well today.” Mr Jones stared at him in amazement then smiled: “Ah, you must have the wrong house. “It's Jones the Spy you want.” Dai was watching a Six Nations game in Cardiff. In the packed stadium there was only one empty seat, right next to him. “Whose is that seat?” asked a man in the row behind. “I got the ticket for my wife,” said Dai. “But she died in an accident.” “So you’re keeping the seat vacant as a mark of respect?” “No,” said the fan, “I offered it to all of my friends.” “So why didn’t they take it?” “They’ve all gone to the funeral.” Young Dylan comes home from school and tells his mother he’s been given a part in the school play. “Wonderful,“ says his mam. “What part is it?” The boy says: “I play the part of the Welsh husband.” The mother scowls and says: “Go back and tell them you want a speaking part.” St. Stephen’s Church—Hightown Page 6 March 2021
Poetry please – The New Normal
Compe""on Rules
Am I eligible to enter?
Yes, if you live in Hightown, Li0le Crosby,
or Ince Blundell, or work in or belong to
an organisa'on in Hightown. Judges and
organisers of this compe''on and their
families may not enter. Parochial Church
Council (PCC) members, except
organisers, may enter.
What poems can I enter?
The theme of poems entering the compe''on is: The New Normal. You may choose
a different, 'tle, provided the poem relates closely to the theme.
You may submit one or two poems.
Your entries must be your original work, wri0en in English and no longer than 20
lines.
Entries must not have been published, self-published, published on a website,
broadcast or featured among winners in another compe''on with results before 1
October 2021.
How do I enter?
Your entry should be typed double or single spaced at a minimum type size of 12pt
and maximum size of 14pt. Each poem should fit on one sheet.
Handwri0en entries cannot be accepted except from children under the age of 11
years.
Do not show your name on the poem itself as all entries are judged anonymously.
Please state your age on the poem if you are under 18 years old.
You may enter by email or by post.
Electronic entries must be Word documents a0ached to emails. Send to
Poetry.Compe''on@StStephensHightown.org.uk
St. Stephen’s Church—Hightown Page 7 March 2021
Please state your name, contact ‘phone number and postal address and Hightown
organisa'on/employer, (if applicable) on a0ached email.
Postal entries should be printed in black ink on A4 paper and sent to
6 Old Acre, Hightown, L38 9EW
in envelopes labelled ‘The New Normal’, Focus Poetry Compe''on 2021’. Please
state your name, contact ‘phone number and postal address and Hightown
organisa'on/employer (if applicable) on a separate sheet.
The closing date is midnight on 1 June 2021.
Under no circumstances can altera'ons be made to poems once entered.
Entries will not be returned, so please keep a copy.
What happens next?
The compe''on organisers reserve the right to change the judging panel without
no'ce and not to award a prize(s) if, in the judges’ opinion, such an ac'on is
jus'fied. No entrant will be awarded more than one prize. Entries are judged
anonymously.
Prize-winner(s) will be no'fied before September 2021.They will be required to
provide a short biography and photograph immediately on no'fica'on (with
parental approval if younger than 18 years).
Winning poems will be published in the September 2021 issue of Focus
magazine.
Winners will be invited to read their poems at the telephone, virtual, or Zoom St
Stephen’s Church morning service on 19 September (or to nominate a rela've,
friend or church officer to read on their behalf).
The copyright of each poem remains with its author. However, authors of all
poems, by entering the compe''on, grant the PCC the right to publish and/or
broadcast their poem. Use of the winning poems elsewhere should include acknowl-
edgement to St Stephen’s Focus magazine.
The judges’ decision is final and neither the judges, nor organisers, nor PCC mem-
bers, will enter into any correspondence.
Good Luck!
St. Stephen’s Church—Hightown Page 8 March 2021
HIGH DAYS & HOLY DAYS
1 March – David, Bishop of Menevia,
Patron of Wales, c520 – 601 or 589
Graham Goodchild, Old Acre
Although St David has been regarded as the patron
saint of Wales since at least the 12th Century, li0le is
known about him. A.er becoming a priest, he is said
to have founded 10 monasteries, finally se0ling at
Mynyw or Menevia (now St David’s) where he founded
a monastery whose monks lived a life of harsh
austerity, imita'ng the monks of Egypt, sustained by a
frugal diet of vegetables, herbs, bread and water. His
strict rule forbidding the consump'on of alcohol
earned him the nickname of Aqua'cus, or Waterman, which may also have referred
to his regular habit of immersing himself in cold water as a means of subduing the
flesh.
In about 560 AD St David is said to have a0ended the Synod of Brefi, at present day
Llandewi Brefi, where he spoke with such eloquence that, “with the consent of all
he was made Archbishop and his monastery was declared the metropolis of the
whole of Wales so that whoever ruled it should be accounted Archbishop.” The
Synod of Brefi was called to condemn the here'cal teaching of Pelagius who argued
that salva'on could be earned by free will, without divine interven'on.
St David died in old age at his monastery in Menevia. His relics were translated to a
shrine in the Cathedral of St Davids built on the site of the monastery in 1131 and
again in 1275 on the rebuilding of the cathedral which was largely financed by
offerings at his shrine. The shrine became one of the most important in the
medieval Chris'an world. There are many churches dedicated to St David in Wales
and several in South West England. His work is regarded as forming the basis of
Welsh monas'cism. He is usually pictured in episcopal vestments standing on a
mound with a dove at his shoulder as a reminder of the miracle that occurred when
St David was preaching to a large crowd in the village of Llandewi Brefi. Some
people could not see or hear him un'l a dove landed on his shoulder and the
St. Stephen’s Church—Hightown Page 9 March 2021
ground beneath him rose so that he stood on a mound. St David’s Church stands on this site. The ancient Welsh custom of wearing a leek on St David’s Day is of obscure origin. In Act V Scene i of Shakespeare’s play, King Henry V, Pistol mocks Fluellen for wearing a leek on St David’s Day. Gower reproaches Pistol, describing the custom as “an ancient tradi'on begun upon an honourable respect, and worn as a memorable trophy of predeceased valour.” In Act IV Scene vii Fluellen invites King Henry to wear a leek on St David’s Day, reminding him that “Welshmen did good service in a garden where leeks did grow, wearing leeks in their Monmouth caps” at the Ba0le of Poi'ers in 1356. In an old story St David caused his countrymen, in their fight against the Saxons, under the leadership of Cadwalladr, King of Gwynedd, to dis'nguish themselves from their foes by wearing leeks in their caps. Is this the origin of the custom? In modern 'mes the daffodil has become an alterna've to the leek as a Welsh emblem. What be0er emblem to wear on St David’s Day than a daffodil which “fills the winds of March with beauty.” St. Stephen’s Church—Hightown Page 10 March 2021
Refuge - The freephone,
24-hour National Domestic
Abuse Helpline
Are you experiencing domes"c abuse?
You are not alone.
Spotting the signs
• Is he charming one minute and abusive the next?
• Does he play mind games and make you doubt your
judgment?
• Are you star'ng to walk on eggshells to avoid making
him angry?
• Does he monitor or track your movements or
messages?
• Does he use anger and in'mida'on to frighten and
control you?
Phone - 0808 2000 247 - Today
St. Stephen’s Church—Hightown Page 11 March 2021DAFFODILS William Wordsworth- 1770-1850 I wandered lonely as a Cloud That floats on high o'er Vales and Hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host of golden Daffodils; Beside the Lake, beneath the trees, Flu0ering and dancing in the breeze. Con'nuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the Milky Way, They stretched in never-ending line Along the margin of a bay: Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. The waves beside them danced, but they Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:— A Poet could not but be gay In such a jocund company: I gazed—and gazed—but li0le thought What wealth the shew to me had brought: For o. when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude, And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the Daffodils. St. Stephen’s Church—Hightown Page 12 March 2021
Birthdays
Isabella Diane Louise Forsyth
10th March 2015
Hightown Mem or ies — by Bery l Howar d
When Beryl was three weeks old her mother and father came to
stay with friends in Lower Alt Road, on account of the bombing in
Liverpool. She was taken to the Hightown Pharmacy to be
weighed by Mr. Edwards, who ran the shop. It was, at that 'me,
situated where the present hairdressing salon is now. His sister,
Dilys, helped out in the shop and, many years later, Beryl came
across Dilys in a nursing home in Formby.
St. Stephen’s Church—Hightown Page 13 March 2021My Wales
By Margaret Bate.
Wales a land of song, castles, chapels, churches, beaches, mountains
and wide open spaces, but most of all it is my heritage.
I grew up in the small village of Dwyran situated on the west coast of
Anglesey, on the Menai Straits very near to
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysiliogogogoch.
Both my parents were born and bred there also, so as you can imagine
we were either related to, or knew everyone in the whole village. I had
many an Aunt an Uncle!!
Dwyran in the 50’s had no main electricity, and I remember my father
buying a large electric generator. It was so big that when we switched
it on the whole family would run to put all the lights and appliances on
in the house, even then the outbuilding where it was situated would
shudder. We were one of the first to have a television in the village and
most of my friends would come and watch it, especially on a Saturday
a.ernoon for children's hour.
It was lovely growing up cocooned by friends, family and neighbours.
During the school holidays we would go to different local beaches and
spend the whole day swimming, building sandcastles, cockling and
having picnics.
Anglesey has some of the nicest beaches. We used to walk to
Llanddwyn beach or get on the bus to one of the many other beaches
further afield. Llanddwyn Island has a magical and unique beauty. It
can be accessed either through the lovely Llanddwyn beach, (but only
St. Stephen’s Church—Hightown Page 14 March 2021at low 'de) or the Newborough Warren forest. Llanddwyn means The Church of St Dwynwen. She is the Welsh patron saint of lovers, and her feast day is on the 25th of January. Down the centuries pilgrims would flock to the medieval Island church with offerings and ask St Dwynwen to bring love into their lives. I have walked there myself many a 'me. Well worth a visit. Anglesey was the birthplace of the Land Rover in 1947. Maurice Wilks lived on a farm in Dwyran. He was an engineer and chairman of the Rover company. He adapted a Willys Jeep into the now well known land Rover a.er drawing sketches in the sand on the beach. The coastal path of Anglesey is 124 miles and has some spectacular scenery and varied marine wildlife, and is o.en ravaged by storms off the Irish Sea. In 1859 The steam clipper Royal Charter, making it’s way from Melbourne Australia across the Irish sea to Liverpool with the hold full of gold worth tens of millions of pounds, was carried by the hurricane wind onto a sandbank. Moelfre residents formed a human chain to try and rescue them, but the 'de was rising and the ship was swept on to the rocks and broke in two. Out of the 490 passengers and crew only 40 live were saved. Charles Dickens as a journalist visited the area soon a.er to inves'gate the a.ermath. Most of the gold was eventually recovered, but even now scuba divers s'll finds some remnants of gold. Plas Newydd is a country house on the Menai Straits. It was built in 1470 and for a number of years was the ancestral home of the Mar- quess of Anglesey. Rex Whistler painted a famous large mural on one wall, with tricks of pespec've illusions, (that mean the scene appears to change when seen from different parts of the room.) My great grandmother was the housekeeper for the Marquess, and lived at the Lodge of Plas Newydd. That is where my grandmother was born. St. Stephen’s Church—Hightown Page 15 March 2021
Two bridges connect Anglesey to the mainland. The Menai Suspension bridge was built by Thomas Telford, and at the 'me it opened in 1826 it had the longest bridge span in the world. This was a great life line for the islanders as many a life had been lost when boats and ferries used to transport people across the treacherous waters of the Menai Straits. My father, a.er the 1st world war, used to travel by boat every day from Dwyran to a0end school in Caernafon, which was directly opposite, and he recalled many a near miss himself, and would have to stay in Caernarfon overnight when the sea was too rough to cross. The Britannia bridge was designed and built by Robert Stephenson as a tubular railway bridge, and completed in 1850. In 1970 a fire caused extensive damage to the tubes disrup'ng the rail service to the island for over two years. It took another eight years for the road car span above the railway to be completed. HMS Conway built in 1839 as a 92 gun wooden ba0le ship and was converted in 1876 to a naval training school ship. It was originally sta'oned on the Mersey, but in 1941 during World War 2 it was relocated for safety to the Plas Menai mooring on the Menai Straits. In 1953 it was due a refurbishment and was to be towed back to the Mersey for this to be undertaken. It was a tricky and delicate opera'on due to the nature of the unpredictable 'de, swellies and eddies in the straits. The advise given to the admiralty by local pilots were ignored, and during the move the ship was caught in the swellies and driven on to the rocks. It was deemed too dangerous to move and eventually broke in two. It was le. to rot there for years. At the 'me my uncle Bob was the ships chef, and was on board when it ran aground. St. Stephen’s Church—Hightown Page 16 March 2021
St. Stephen’s Church—Hightown Page 17 March 2021
KEY ROLES:THE SACRISTAN AND THE SERVER By Hazel Roberts A key role in our communion services is a sacristan Firstly, what is a sacristan? The dic'onary, unhelpfully, says ‘a person in charge of a sacristy’. The sacristy is the room where everything which is needed for communion is kept. It is the sacristan’s duty to make sure that there is always enough bread and wine and also that the linen cloths, used in the services, are well laundered. Of course, this is as much for hygiene as for appearance as the chalice is wiped with a cloth a.er each person has sipped wine from it. Before the service starts, the sacristan gathers together all that is needed: the silver plate and chalice, the bread and the wine, the hand sani'ser and, the bowl and water, for the priest to wash their hands. All of these items are placed on the credence table next to the altar. Yes! Even this table has a special name. Being a sacristan means learning many new names! The sacristan then has to make sure that the Gospel Book, which will be read from, is marked at the correct page. The Church uses four different colours to denote each liturgical season: white, green, purple and red. Each colour has a significance. It’s the sacristan’s responsibility to make sure that the colour is correct for the liturgical season. During Lent, which is he present liturgical season, the church is ‘dressed’ in purple, the colour purple symbolises penitence; the altar, lectern, pulpit and even the collec'on plates must all be dressed in the same colour, purple. My second role is as a server. A server does exactly that. They lay out the priest’s robes; the stole and the chasuble. Again, more names to learn! During the service, at the altar, the server stands close to the priest, watching carefully to make sure the correct item is passed at the correct 'me, so that it all goes smoothly. I have always felt very privileged to have been asked to stand in both these roles. When I’m preparing for the service and during it, I always feel an extra presence, as if the Lord is actually there with me. I most certainly feel at peace, relaxed and even rejuvenated at these 'mes. St. Stephen’s Church—Hightown Page 18 March 2021
PRAYER PROMPTS FOR MARCH
1st. St. David. For the people of Wales, their Church and their Govern-
ment.
For the people of Blundell Avenue and Alton Close.
2nd. For those who work in the NHS.
For the people of Blundell Road.
3rd. For the work of Traidcra. and other fairtrading organisa'ons.
For the people of Whitefield Close and Oakfield Road.
4th. For all those who work in agriculture.
For the people of Holmfield, Moss Lane and Farms in the area.
5th. For the elderly, the housebound and those who are lonely. May we be open to their
needs
For the people of North End Lane and Ackers Lane.
6th. We give thanks for our clergy in Hightown and pray that more people will feel called
to serve in this way.
For the people of. Marston Crescent and Larkhill Grove.
7th. (3rd Sunday in Lent) That we may be open to God’s will for us.
8th. For Church Musicians especially our organists and choir. Praying we will soon be able
to hear them again
For the people of Blundell Grove and Wignalls Meadow.
9th. For our mission partners Becky and Evaldo and their work with the girls in the Revive
house in Brazil.
For the people of Riverside.
10th. For those involved in jus'ce at home or abroad.
For the people of Withinsfield.
11th. For those who work in the emergency services.
For the people of Hester Close and St. Stephen’s Road.
12th. We give thanks for the beauty of our local environment, make us good stewards.
For the people of St. George’s Road and Sandy Lane
13th. For chaplains in hospitals, prisons and universi'es.
For the people of Mark Road.
14th. (4th Sunday in Lent - Mothering Sunday) We remember all Mothers, especially
those who struggle alone.
15th. For the people of Our Lady of Victories and those who worship outside the village.
For the people of North Dunes and Westway.
St. Stephen’s Church—Hightown Page 19 March 202116th. For the local commerce and industry.
For the people of Village Way and Roundway
17th. Patrick. For the people of Ireland, their Church and Government.
For the people of Alt Road and Lower Alt Road.
18th. For those who serve in the armed forces both at home and abroad.
For the people of the Ranges and Altcar Camp.
19th. Joseph of Nazareth. We remember all fathers and those who take responsibility for
the upbringing of children.
For the people of Elvington Road.
20th. For the sick and their carers.
For the people of Sandhills.
21st. (5th Sunday in Lent - Passion"de begins) That we may have the will to be the servant
of others.
22nd. For our young people and the work of the Children’s Society.
For the people of Moorhouses and Bankside.
23rd. For all who are homeless and the chari'es which work to support them, especially
The Whitechapel Centre in Liverpool.
For the people of School Road and Gorsey Lane.
24th. For those seeking employment.
For the people of Tudor Gardens and Thirlmere Mews
25th. (The annuncia"on to Mary) For all those carrying children.
For the people of Elmcro5 Lane and Emerson Close.
26th. For all the Hightown organisa'ons that they may soon be able to safely resume their
ac'vi'es.
For the people of Thornbeck Avenue and Mayfair Close
27th. For the bereaved and those who carry great sadness.
For the people of Briary Cro5
28th. Palm Sunday - the beginning of Holy Week. That we may follow Jesus’ example of
showing love towards all
29th. Monday of Holy Week. For our Church Wardens and the work of the P.C.C.
For the people of Langley Close and Richmond Close.
30th. Tuesday of Holy Week. For poli'cal prisoners and the work of Amnesty Interna'on-
al.
For the people of Old Acre.
31st. Wednesday of Holy Week. For those involved in educa'on.
For the people of Thirlmere and Windermere Road.
St. Stephen’s Church—Hightown Page 20 March 2021From Beth’s Kitchen
WELSH CAKES – A TREAT FOR ST. DAVID’S DAY*
My stepmother is Welsh through and through. She was born in
Anglesey, Welsh is her first language and her working life was
devoted to teaching the language in schools to help keep it alive. It
must have been a real wrench when she met and married my Dad
and moved to Yorkshire.
Together, they joined the local St. David’s Society, to enjoy the company of fellow
Welsh exiles and converse in their common language. On the nearest Sunday to St
David’s Day, the society joins together for a celebratory lunch at a local hotel. They
always began with leek and potato soup (recipe given in a previous FOCUS) followed
by roast Welsh lamb with rosemary and the usual trimmings. The meat eaters
amongst you will not need help in how to produce this tradi'onal dish. Desserts
varied each year. Mona suggested that I provide you with a recipe for Welsh cakes
which are easy and quick to produce and make a lovely tea'me treat.
Ingredients*
• 225g self-raising flour
• 110g salted bu0er, diced, plus extra for greasing
• 85g caster sugar, plus extra for dus'ng
• Handful of sultanas
• 1 egg, beaten
• Milk, if needed
Method*
• Si. the flour into a bowl add the diced bu0er and rub with finger'ps un'l the
mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
• Add the sugar, sultanas and beaten eggs and mix well to form a ball of dough,
using a splash of milk if needed.
• Roll out on a floured board to a thickness of your li0le finger and cut into 7.5
– 10cm rounds.
• Grease a heavy iron griddle or frying pan, heat thoroughly on the hob and
cook the cakes on each side for 2-3 minutes un'l golden
brown. Remove from pan, dust with caster sugar whilst
s'll warm and serve. They can be split and filled with jam
as an alterna've.
Enjoy and do not worry about the calories.
St. Stephen’s Church—Hightown Page 21 March 2021A Monolith at Hightown
Last Sunday an eight-foot, three-sided shiny monolith
appeared in a dunes blow-hole, three minutes walk
from my house. On Monday Beth and I decided to
boldly go and see it. It was impressive. Two sides
showed distorted reflec'ons of marram grass,
appearing to swirl wildly in all direc'ons. The third
gazed out to sea, as if it was trying to work out what
the iron men were looking at. Magical.
Word was spreading, and increasing numbers of
people came to pay homage. (Well actually to be
photographed next to it, which is the modern form of
homage). People politely took turns, then moved sideways to avoid spoiling
each other’s shots. Dogs decided it was not a lamp-post or tree, so they did not
deem it worth cocking a leg at. One smart teenager told his friends that it wasn’t
real, an apparent disappointment which surprised me. Toddlers registered it as
yet one more new thing, not realising that it was one of only a hundred and
seventy in the world, and that they would be unlikely to see one again.
On Tuesday it disappeared, but in circumstances bere. of mystery. The council
removed it. The statement issued said that permission had not been sought to
place it there.( If there are any alien civilisa'ons monitoring our world, I hope
they took fair warning of this. They now know that their first approach to the
earth must not be to send an enigma'c stone emissary, but to apply to a local
council and wait for a permit). The council said that the monolith was being
stored un'l the owner claimed it. I was really tempted to turn up at Bootle town
hall, disguised as a green alien, and mime a request along the lines of “ET go
home”. I couldn’t be bothered, though. I could have been an alien if I had more
get-up-and-go.
The idea of something appearing from nowhere, mul'plying and dispersing itself
around the world, killing millions and imposing a curfew, does not seem as
fanciful as it would have done a year ago. The magic we crave is not the sudden
appearance of an alien, but the disappearance of the one we already have, code
name COVID-19. In that context, and given the likely exponen'al growth in
numbers of visitors the monolith would have a0racted, the council were
probably right.
Chris Cresswell January 2021
St. Stephen’s Church—Hightown Page 22 March 2021St. Stephen’s Church—Hightown Page 23 March 2021
Meet Our Furry Family Members
Welcome to Mi Fan
Hi!
My name is Mi Fan, which is Chinese for rice. I am a pug
crossed with a bichon frise and nearly three months
old. I am sure I am going to love living in
Hightown and will make lots of friends on the beach,
human as well as canine.
Hello, I am Tegen an English Springer Spaniel. I was born
on October 13th 2016 in Liskeard, Cornwall. I was
number 7 of 13 puppies! I came to live in Hightown on
December 10th 2016 and consider myself so lucky to
have the sandhills and beach to run on! Tegen is Cornish
for ‘beau'ful li0le thing’ which I am most of the 'me!!I
have many friends, including Amber, a cockerpoo ,and
Mack ,a black Labrador.
Hello.
My name is Beth. I am a three year old greyhound.
I was born in Ireland , bred for the purposes of
racing, but I much prefer it here in my lovely home
in Hightown. My colour and pa0ern is known as
brindle .and some'mes my owner refers to me as
the li0le 'ger. I love running and playing with my
many friends, including Rosco, Harvey and Mack
and going on long walksI
St. Stephen’s Church—Hightown Page 24 March 2021USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Police (Non-Emergency) – 101
NHS (Non-Emergency) – 111
Se.on Council Main Number – 0345 140 0845
Adult Social Care – 01704 704389 (North) / 0151 529 3761 (South)
Children’s Social Care – 0151 934 3114
Children’s Safeguarding Concerns – 0345 140 0845 (8am-6pm)
Se.on Council Emergency Duty Team (weekends) 0151 934 3555
Se.on Council for Voluntary Service – 0151 920 0726
Living Well Se.on – 0300 323 0181
Healthwatch Se.on – 0800 206 1304
Se.on Security – 0151 934 4746
NHS South Se.on CCG: 0151 317 8456
NHS Southport and Formby CCG: 01704 395 785
Se.on Carers Centre (helpline) – 0151 288 6060
Stop Hate UK - 0800 138 1625
Se.on Women's & Children's Aid - 0151 922 8606
Brass Cleaning
March Barbara Hope
April Gill Rowe
Please con:nue to keep
Reverend Anne e
in your thoughts and prayers.
St. Stephen’s Church—Hightown Page 25 March 2021AJG Plumbing and Hea"ng If you would like to adver'se in this
space please contact:
Central hea'ng installed, maintained and
repaired. Full bathroom refurbs. All work Val Monchar on 0151 929 2001.
carried out by qualified tradesmen. Gas safe
registered no.229932
Electronic copies of adverts only please.
Tel: 01714 382945
Mob: 07711842614
St. Stephen’s Church—Hightown Page 26 March 2021St. Stephen’s Church—Hightown Page 27 March 2021
FEELING FLABBY, UNFIT
AND SICK OF DIETS?
WANT TO BE B-FIT + FABULOUS?
Feel fabulous, toned, slimmer and healthier
Drop a dress size without calorie coun"ng
Boost your energy and feel 10 years younger
Have the WOW factor
TO CLAIM YOUR FREE GIFT AND BOOK YOUR
FREE B-FIT B-FABULOUS SESSION WORTH £60
Call Gaynor on 07748 298 728 or email: Gaynor@B-Fit.uk.com
Only 6 places available — For success stories visit www.B-Fit.uk.com
St. Stephen’s Church—Hightown Page 28 March 2021Applied IT Systems
We are DBS checked Do you have problems with your computer or laptop?
Based in Hightown we can provide computer tui:on and support
Is your WiFi or Broadband not working and causing issues?
We also offer advice on phone and Broadband packages
Contact Robbie on 0151 317 7595 or info@appliedsystems.co.uk
St. Stephen’s Church—Hightown Page 29 March 2021You can also read
