Your Letters
1st AprilTo the Editor
Please may I become the first resident of The Lee Manor House Old People’s Home, arriving along with the first cuckoo perhaps?
Diana Morley
Ladygrove
[Contact the developer: Madeoff (into the) Sunset Homes Ltd to reserve your apartment – Ed]
The shop, the church and God
To the Editor
I have a high regard for Richard Stewart-Liberty’s abilities and was therefore disappointed to read his contribution to the April Newsletter making comparisons between the Parish Church and the Village Shop. I am assuming that the letter was meant to be serious, not some April Fool effort, and I would like to respond accordingly.
First, he writes that “the Shop is the Church”. This must be an absurd statement by any standards. The shop may bring a number of benefits to the community, but first and foremost, it is a man-made device to sell goods - a utilitarian world of Baked Beans and Special Offers. Surely Richard can recognise the difference between the Supernatural and the Supermarket.
Second, Richard says that God may be found “in the midst of the Shop”. In the sense that God may be found anywhere, if sought in the right spirit, he may well have a point. However, we are in tricky theological territory and I confess that I am no theologian. But then, neither is he.
Third, he writes that the Shop is “more fun” than the Church and that good things such as “love and hope abound”. When did Richard last attend a Parish Service? How would he know whether there was “neighbourliness” or “gossip” in our Church? I can tell him that there is a strong sense of fellowship and concern for others among our congregation. I would be pleased to invite Richard to a Service and, if he stayed for a coffee and a chat, he might be surprised.
Fourth, he remarks that the Church “frets” about building maintenance, etc. Of course it does. Don’t we all fret on occasions about our own property? And if the roof of the Shop blew off wouldn’t there be, quite rightly, some dismay and a flurry of local fund-raising? There is a beauty in the fabric of our Church (some of Richard’s antecedents played their part in that) and it deserves to be cared for. The Shop also needs to be maintained, but it can hardly claim to have spiritual or architectural merit.
Fifth, isn’t it significant that many villagers turn to the Church, not to the Shop, at important times – weddings, baptisms, funerals and in times of stress?
All in all, Richard’s letter shows little understanding of what the Church stands for or what goes on there. The Shop is a friendly, commercial institution and we all appreciate it, but its value ends there. Perhaps Richard should stick to what he knows – Busting Sods.
Mike Senior
The Lee
Litter pickers
To the Editor
I would like to say a huge “Thanks” to those who recently collected litter around The Lee.
The results of your labours were clear!
Colin Sully
Swan Bottom
Ruttle or Bunce?
To the Editor
I read with great interest and pleasure Mrs Stewart-Liberty’s letter about farmer Chris Ruttle.
But I have been watching Peter and Kevin Bunce working the large fields
opposite my house. First the soil could not be ploughed because it was sodden
with the excess rain. Then, when at last it had dried out, it became as hard
as steel breaking the shares of the plough.After two weeks they were able to plough and break up the soil but they had to do that twice.
Yesterday they sowed the barley, dust flying about the tractor. Once I saw in the distance Peter climbing down as the plough needed repairing.
The field is covered by billions and trillions of flints, how anything grows is a miracle.
Chris is very lucky, his fields bordering on the opposite of Kings Lane are better by far with softer earth and less flints.
All farmers deserve our gratitude and admiration but for me, as I see
them work, the Bunce brothers are simply the best.
Reina Free
Kings Ash
1066 and all that...
To the Editor
Dismay and unbelief filled me when I read this piece. How would Messrs Campbell and Sully like it if I announced there was a Roman pavement under their petunias thereby inviting every punter in town to come and investigate.
I am cognisant of all historical sites on my patch as one of the Ancient Monument people who keep a very close eye on things and would not relish every fossicker on the lookout (off the footpath and on private property) having a go.
My husband took a degree in forestry at Christ Church Oxford and cared for his woodland with a lifelong passion.
Woodland doesn’t just happen: it is tenderly, immaculately, devotedly cared for – one is merely the custodian.
It is tough enough coping with squirrels, muntjac, rabbits, glis glis, drought and disease let alone those who stray from footpaths and do huge damage.
They cut out leading shoots from newly planted sapling compartments, dig or pull out trees, lop off branches and dump rubbish.
That’s why I wish attention had not been drawn to this site thereby alerting every Tom, Dick and Harriet looking for buried treasure, however ‘interested’ they may be.
It would have been courteous to have asked Chris Ruttle or me before writing this article.
The last time the Royal Forestry Society, of which I am a member, came on a day long visit they were overwhelmed by the perfect condition of the woodland – nay they used the word ‘manicured’.
It’s a struggle but we press on – it’s done for love, I can assure you there’s no money in it. Those who look after my woodland say: “It’s not washing its face” – that’s ok by me – it’s a question of responsibility for those who come after me (and you!).
Were my husband alive I feel he would have written just such a letter on this, but maybe in Latin.
Liz Stewart-Liberty
The Lee