Month: October 2025
When Will It Rain Again?
‘The Gentleman In Velvet’
‘The Gentleman In Velvet’
He was toasted as the ‘gentleman in velvet’ by the Jacobites. A recent classic book was called ‘The Boy, the ?, the Fox and the Horse. In Under Milk Wood, Dylan Thomas wrote:
‘The houses are blind as ? though ? see fine tonight in the snouting velvet dingles’
He was a leading character in the Wind in the Willows. The answer and missing word is, of course, Mole.
The Jacobites, who supported the deposed King James II, were delighted when in 1702 the then King William, died after his horse stumbled on a molehill. He suffered a broken collar bone when he fell and died a few weeks later. The Jacobites then traditionally raised a toast to ‘the wee gentleman in the velvet jacket;’ who had brought about his downfall.
These days moles tend to be seen as a nuisance when they create molehills on pristine lawns, cricket pitches and bowling greens. But for many centuries moles, once called ‘mouldywarps’, were valued for their fur which has a short, velvety texture. Particularly in Victorian times it was used for garments and accessories. So they were trapped in large numbers. The Molecatcher of Wenvoe is recorded as having killed 3,000 moles in 1932 and 3,400 the year before. (Nigel Billingham research).
The mole has a cylindrical body and very powerful forelimbs with claws like shovels making them strong diggers capable of tunnelling 20 metres a day. The tunnels help to aerate the soil and mix up the soil levels which is beneficial to other animals and plants. Their main diet is worms which they consume in large numbers but they also paralyse some with their saliva and stash them alive in ‘larders’ for later consumption.
So whether you are a Jacobite, nature or literature lover, why not drink a toast to our velvet friend?
“Managing Expectations” by Minnie Driver
OFF THE SHELF
“Managing Expectations” by Minnie Driver
We all really enjoyed this book. It is not an autobiography but rather accounts of episodes in Minnie Driver’s extraordinary life. It is hilarious, happy, poignant and sad. She writes so well about trying to understand the relationships and events that have formed her; her family and friends from England, New York, California and back again. Indeed, how she manages her life in good times and bad. From the very first sentence it is a page turner and hard to put down. We scored it 8/10 and highly recommend this book as a good read.
Tricia Coulthard
Blue Skies At Cosmeston
LIVING WITH CANCER STROLLERS
Blue Skies At Cosmeston
Waterproofs were not needed as the strollers gathered under blue skies at Cosmeston. Signs of Autumn were everywhere…fallen, golden leaves, red berries and bushes bulging with blackberries. Sweets were also in abundance as two birthdays were being celebrated!
“Perfect” by Rachel Joyce
“Perfect” by Rachel Joyce
Rachel Joyce wrote the bestselling novel of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, so the Page Turners had high expectations for another of her novels, “Perfect”. Perfect tells the story of two 11-year-old boys who plot to save their mother after she has a car accident; an accident she is not aware of. Class divisions, mental health, emotional abuse are some issues running through the book, culminating in a terrific twist at the end. Some Page Turners thought the book was a slow, unhappy, dreadful story with characters they couldn’t warm to or like. Others thought Perfect was a tragic, moving , well written novel with many characters who found themselves to be victims of their circumstances. It was scored a 6…so far from Perfect. What are your thoughts?
August 2025 200 Club Winners
October Church News
October Church News
Greetings to you all from the congregation at St. Mary’s Church.
First a correction to the September Church News. The refurbishment of the Church Hall has been funded by the donations from members of the congregation who wish to see the hall restored to encourage more use from the community. To date the lighting has been replaced with LED strip lighting. The lobby has been redecorated, the reveals to the windows in the hall repaired, the Gents Toilet refurbished, the next phase will include the redecoration of the main hall and kitchen/storeroom, by Alex Reynolds’ company at no cost to the church. Thank you, Alex. Sound absorbing panels are to be fitted to the walls to lessen the noise factor when the hall is in use. The wood block floor is to be restored to its former state and with the addition of new curtains at the windows, the church hall will once again be a more welcoming place than previously. So, a big thank you to all who have contributed to the work with donations or practical help in sorting out the storeroom and helping with the hard work, it will be worth all your efforts.
Pilgrimage to Ewenny Priory and Merthyr Mawr
On Saturday 4 October you are invited to take part in our pilgrimage, starting at Ewenny Priory at 10.00am and proceeding via St Bride’s Major to the church at Merthyr Mawr. At each of the churches we will pause to pray and look around. We will finish with a pub meal at around 4.00pm. You can take part by walking (total distance about 7 miles), following by car, or by joining in the prayers at home. More details from Lyndon lyndontssf @outlook.com or David Kennedy kennedy dcf64@aol.com
The celebration of the Harvest took place on September 28th. We were pleased to welcome Alison Price who took part in the Eucharist service. Alison is an active member of the church and has led the Pebbles group for many years. She is currently undertaking her training for the ministry and has begun the final stage of her studies and practice experience during the month. To wish her well there were refreshments following the service and she was presented with a gift from the congregation.
The church was decorated with flowers and displays of the donated food items for the Food Bank were placed in the windows. Many thanks for the recent donations to the Food Bank. The weekly items placed in the boxes in the porch are well received. Items most in need are tinned meat products, tinned vegetables and potatoes, sugar, jams and peanut butter and toiletries. Many thanks for the continued support of the needs of the Food Bank.
A celebration of the Harvest at St. Bleddian’s church at St. Lythans will be held at 3.00pm on October 12th. “Come ye thankful people come”. Regular worship in the church is now limited to Festivals in the church’s calendar, so it is a joy to maintain the round of worship in this ancient church. All are welcome to join us and refreshments
will follow the service.
The Chattery continues to meet in the Church Hall on the second Thursday of the month and is well supported and the FREE raffle is always a time of much hilarity. This is an opportunity to meet in a safe warm place, especially during the coming Winter months, to catch up with news and chat to old friends with the latest news. The modest charge of £2.00 includes the free raffle ticket. All are welcome. The next date will be on October 9th at 10.30am. All are assured of a warm welcome.
200 Club. Renewal letters have been sent to all subscribers to the 200 club, The proceeds from the subscriptions are a major source of income for the building fund, which is used to keep the fabric of the church building in good order. Each share costs £12 for the year, half is used for prize money and half for the Building Fund and prize draws are monthly. Please consider joining if you have not already done so; new shareholders are always welcome. And to those whose support is gratefully received perhaps taking out an extra share this year, in addition to those already held, will help us to make more of a 300 club. Thank you.
The Inaugural Ministry Area BBQ Saturday 7th September. Representatives from the Ministry Area gathered at The Vicarage in Rhoose for a BBQ hosted by the Rev. Denise Maud. The weather was fine and the company enjoyed meeting up and making new contacts thank you Denise, Andrew and their two children for making us all so welcome.
Remembrance Sunday 9th November. Our traditional service of remembrance will be held at 10.00am in church followed by the silence and laying of wreaths at the Village War Memorial.
Quiz Night. Those of you who obtained your tickets for a quiz hosted by Ray Harris, enjoy the evening and do support the raffle in the half time interval. All monies raised go towards the refurbishment of the Church Hall.
It is good to share our news of St. Mary’s with you and maybe one day we will see you in church where a warm welcome awaits.
Parry
