WHITCHURCH
Correspondent: Jenny Sparkes jandjsparkes@btinternet.com
Aisle Community Lunch will be on the 8th and 22nd July and 12th August 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 July 3rd and 17th and 7th and 21st August 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 Far Hill Flowers, Elm Farm, Llanishen on July 10th at 10am. For details ring Pauline Curtis 01989 768400.
NGBIOBingo is at the Old Court on July 2nd and August 6th, 7 for 7.30pm.
Clive and Janet Townsend will hostOPEN GARDENS at Wood View, The Doward, HR9 6DZ on Sundays July 7th and 21st from 1.00pm. Teas will be served.
St Dubricius Summer Supper will be on Saturday August 3rd at Wood View. Details from Sue 01600 890381.
MEMORIAL HALL ACTIVITIES New Orleans Heat. On July 20th we welcome the return of New Orleans Heat. This is a band of accomplished musicians led by Barry Grummett and featuring the internationally acclaimed reedsman John Scantlebury. Their last performance was a great success and ended with a standing ovation from a delighted audience. Over
the years Whitchurch has become
an established venue for top bands who enjoy playing at the Hall. We have built up a strong following and seldom need to advertise. However, there are usually a few places available if you care to join us. Ring Colin for more info 89064.
An early date for your diary: on Friday 6th September we welcome the return of Jeff Barnham from
the USA. Jeff has performed several times in recent years as pianist, vocalist and raconteur with his Swing Quartet (some will remember his accompaniment and narration at our Silent Movies events). Clearly a man of many talents, he will be performing with John Hallum on reeds, Ann Barhart on flute and Graham Smith on drums. These are well known and accomplished artists and we can be assured of another entertaining evening. Why not come and join us! Ring Colin to book.
Whitchurch Short Mat Bowls ClubWe 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 450533.
Early notice of a concert on Thursday 26th September 7pm with theSaskia Griffiths-Moore Trio.
Saskia is an up and coming UK Singer/ Songwriter with a beautiful voice with similarities to Joan Baez. She has recently recorded her interpretation of Joan Baez and Bob Dylan songs at the Abbey Road studios (see her on youtube) Tickets are £10/12 from Tony Walker, tony@ jwc-guitars.com, 07989 325810
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