WHITCHURCH
Correspondent: Jenny Sparkes jandjsparkes@btinternet.com
Fashion Show The Fashion Show on April 28th was a great success. Thank you to all who supported it and helped raise money for the Flower Festival. Edinburgh Wool are returning in November.
Travelling Light are holding
a Reflective Quiet Retreat at St Dubricius on 8th May. Details from Robin Moulton 01600 890376
Aisle Community Lunch will be
on the 13th May at 12 noon at St Dubricius. The meals are cooked by Woods of Whitchurch. Come and join us. To book, ring 01600 890397.
Good Neighbour Coffee morning
will be in the Memorial Hall on May 1st and 15th from 10.30 to 12noon. Do drop in for coffee and a chat.
‘Tea and Chat’ is held in the Aisle at St Dubricius on Thursdays from 2 – 4pm. This is open to all and a warm welcome awaits you.
Whitchurch Floral Society will visit the Rococo Garden at Painswick on May 8th. Details from Wendy Cogger 01699 890141.
Bingo is at the Old Court on May 7th, 7 for 7.30pm.
MEMORIAL HALL ACTIVITIES
10th May the film will be “Stan and Ollie” starring Steve Coogan and John C Reilly.
The world’s greatest comedy duo Laurel and Hardy face an uncertain future as the golden era of Hollywood films is long behind them.
In their declining years the the pair try to revive failing fortunes with
a tour of British Variety Halls. The shows are an instant hit with adoring fans but Stan and Ollie can’t shake off the past..Long buried tensions, and Hardy’s failing health. threaten the partnership. This is a poignant film with fine performances from both leads, shining a light on the unforgiving Hollywood machine.
Doors open from 7pm for licensed bar and snacks. £5 entry on the door.
This film brings our Spring season to a close. New programme begins in September.
GM Wednesday 15th May 7.30pm. Hall Management Committee AGM. All welcome.
JAZZ Saturday 18th May – Live Jazz with Bev Pegg. Bev is
a first for us, with his “Good Time Jazz Gang”. He has an extensive repertoire of songs from the turn
of the 1900s to the present day, however he has a great love for the classic 1920s and early 1930s jazz era. He plays the guitar and banjo with great competence and dexterity. Bev’s congenial and humorous
stage presence has put him in great demand from promoters of events ranging from jazz, skiffle, comedy, variety shows and corporate after- dinner functions. His audiences are always guaranteed excellent music and loads of laughs. Should
be a fun evening.!
£17.50 to include light supper. 7.15 start. Booking essential . Ring Colin 890640.
Whitchurch Short
Mat Bowls Club
We invite you to join
us for an afternoon or
evening game of Short
Mat bowls free of charge. Coaching given if required. We are looking for new members. we play every Monday evening from 18:45 till 21:30 and Thursday 13:45 till 16:30. Tea and biscuits at half time.
We have bowls to loan and you can play in stocking feet ( no outside shoes allowed on mats). For more info Contact Geoff on 07429 45053
Whitchurch and Ganarew Local History Society We are still very busy beavering away on various projects and trying to find talks, visits, exhibitions and other items of interest. Here are but a few. All welcome to get involved.
Walk and talk “Trade on The Wye Symonds Yat” with Heather Hurley on May 17th. This is a short walk but with a whole load of information. Meet at Woods of Whitchurch at
10.30am cost £5 per head. Afterwards coffee can be purchased at Woods -optional social opportunity.
Calendar 2020 This coming year
we are throwing open to all a chance to be involved in the production of
the calendar associated with the WAGLHS group. It will be entitled “Snippets around the Parish” and
we are looking for the special and/
or unusual photos of animals, birds, flowers, autumn colours, landscape, odd happenings. We will need to collate by late September but are starting now to collect photos from which to choose. So get those photos in to email pghunt1942@gmail.com
Telephone Boxes
Crockers Ash Box is renovated with posters
re local characters inside and large scale map to follow. SY box renovation when we get go ahead from Parish Council.
Exhibition “200 years
of tourism on the Wye 1760-1960″
13/14 July before it moves to the Herefordshire Archives and Record Office for 6 weeks. Following our successful WW1 exhibition this should not be missed.
‘Tea and Chat’ is held in the Aisle at St Dubricius on Thursdays from 2 – 4pm. This is open to all and a warm welcome awaits you
History of St. Dubricius Church
The parish church is one of the oldest in the Deanery of Ross and Archenfield; Its foundations date from the 9th century and the oldest part goes back to the 13th century.
The church is in the Decorated style of architecture with walls of local sandstone rubble and ashlar and the roof of stone slates.
The bowl of the font is Norman in origin, the lower edge being cut away to octagonal form to fit a 14th or 15th century stem with a square base. The church was enlarged in Victorian times.
Outstanding examples of locally-produced needlecraft and tapestries decorate the church.
St. Dubricius lived in Herefordshire in 6th century and founded monasteries which were centres of learning. Legend has it he had a miraculous birth.
The tulip tree near the south porch is reputed to be over 300 years old and blooms every year in June and July.
Useful Links
The Aisle, St. Dubricius church
A History from the Celtic e-Library
A History from A Celtic Collective
Whitchurch CE Primary School Herefordshire
Kingfisher River Cruises Symonds Yat East
norton-house.com B&B Whitchurch
Amazing Hedge Puzzle, Whitchurch
Wyenot.com, A Photographic tour of news and views in the Wye Valley
Gwillim Grave Enclosure
The west side of the churchyard contains the Gwillim tomb. The Gwillims, who owned the Old Court, Whitchurch from 1600 to 1868, were benefactors of the church. Thomas Gwillim, who built the grave enclosure, had from his family of six only one grandchild, Elizabeth Posthuma, who was the daughter of his son Colonel Thomas Gwillim. Elizabeth was a remarkable woman who at 19 years old married John G. Simcoe, future first Governor of Upper Canada and founder of Toronto.
More information on
www.gwillim-simcoe-story.co.uk