Parish News – Archives

From the Parish Magazine 

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll. Candles have been placed in St Mary’s church, for parishioners and visitors to light. They will remain there for the whole period of national mourning.

We welcome a return to Evensong services in Bettws. We are delighted that Caroline is going to include this in her very busy programme. I would be lovely to see you there.

It is much appreciated when it is possible for us to have informal chats after our services. And Anne Beesley generously provided hospitality after our service at the beginning of September. The result was an increased congregation due to Anne’s telephoned invitations.

The Newcastle services have been followed by informal meetings in the Crown Inn. Following two years of limited meetings this is a welcome pleasure.

Our date for Harvest  Service Friday October 7^th  at 6.30.  It will be followed by Supper in the Church Hall.

Church cleaning and Flowers

October:                     Joy Measures             Gill Binks

Churchyard

October                       Anyone who is available!

Valerie Whately.     Tel 01547 510681

Brook House Sanctuary for Animals

Life at the sanctuary is always rather fast and busy, non stop jobs abd constant care. We have in the last fortnight collected, Nigel and Nigella the llamas, Muffin the pony, Donald the duck, Donald and Mabel the pigs and six runner ducks.

The passing of our wonderful, humble, dedicated and gracious Queen stopped us in our tracks and caused much sadness amongst us all. Her love for animals was so strong, with a deep rooted passion for horses.  Orinoco my Fell pony who passed away aged 33 earlier in the year was bred at the Queens Fell pony stud, his full title Heltondale Orinoco VI.

We we were due to attend the Newcastle Show with our animals but the impact of her Majesty’s passing was greater than we ever expected and have taken the time to pause a while, reflect and spend quiet time with our beloved animals.

We will be holding the Bunny Bonanza half term week, a few hours of bunny fun with refreshments, this will be held under cover so weather not a problem.

We want to thank everyone for the donations of Hay, especially Bill and Suzie Meek, Alice Grimes,  Maggie Alun from Kerry and Fiona and Mark Anderson from Castle farm, Craven Arms.

Tina Harkin

More Parish News

Bettws Hall Events

Saturday November 19^th 7.30pm.  Film – The Duke

Saturday December 3^rd 7.30pm  Film – Elvis

December 11^th 12.30pm.  Sunday Lunch – 2 courses

Beef/Nut Roast/Roast peppers with cream and Stilton veg.

Choice of two desserts.

Adults £20, Children half price

Tickets from Delphine 01588 640233

Saturday January 21^st 7.30pm. Quiz and Hot Pot Supper

 

The lifting of restrictions meant that our Harvest service was able to go ahead Almost as normal.  I say  ‘Almost as normal’ because, at the time we were planning it we were uncertain whether people would come to parish hall for the usual supper, and, if so, how many we should cater for.  The decision was made to and those attending to contribute food to share, and this worked very well.  We specified ‘finger food’ on paper plates!  Many thank especially to Joyce, who provided punch which she brought all the way from Bishop’s Castle, arriving early despite extensive road works en route.  The service was led by Ian Ball, who brought with him Trevor and Kay who, together with Ruth and Lawrence, performed harvest themed songs, which made the service very special. As always the church looked lovely, thanks to the arrangers who, aside from doing wonders with the flowers, make the day they are arranged, a happy social occasion in itself.  Many thanks to them all.

Many thanks, also, to those who attended. It is a long time since we had over 40 people in the congregation.

The churchyard will receive its biannual cut soon. When this has been completed we shall be asking for volunteers for grass gathering and tidying up round the graves. I should be very grateful if volunteers for next year’s rota would make themselves known to me. The more the merrier.

Valerie

Cleaning and Flowers

November:              Josie Crompton-Morris                Valerie Whately

December:               Anne Beesley                                   Jude Powell-Hill                             

Coffee Morning and Draw

There will be a coffee morning and hundred Club draw at Bettws-y-Crwyn parish hall on  11^thDecember 10-12 noon.This will be the first for what seems like an age and we are looking forward to getting together once again.

We would welcome contributions from anyone wishing to support the event, and  would appreciate cakes, produce, bring and buy/raffle prizes anything is super. Pete will be doing the big draw for the 100 club, which promises to be exciting.

Do come along for what should be a welcoming festive event, meet with friends and neighbours who have been hidden away for months. Let’s celebrate finally getting together.

Brook House Sanctuary for Animals

We are delighted to announce the ˋLive Nativity´ will be going ahead this year on 18th December at 3pm. Mulled wine, mince pies and other festive treats will be served from Santa’s workshop and there will be a raffle with splendid prizes.

We would welcome any budding actors wanting to play a king, shepherd or even the shining star.

The animals are already in training and Poppy the donkey has a surprise for everyone.

Looking forward to seeing you all on the day.

Tina and James x

We are always grateful for contributions to the Parish Magazine. They should be sent to Tina Harkin by the 13th of each month, please: jwsg67@icloud.com. 01588 641024.

Churchyard

The churchyard ‘wild’ area has now had a basic cut. We now need to rake up the grass and trim round the graves.

Weather permitting – can we have a working group on the morning of Saturday Nov 6th?

It will be lovely to have a large group there. Bring rakes, strimmers etc. if you have them.

Rich will bring a trailer to load grass. I shall bring tea, coffee and biscuits.

Hope to see you there.

Please pass the word on to any who may not see this.

Church Flowers and Cleaning

The list for this year can be downloaded by clicking  on this link – Flower and Cleaning Roster

Valerie Whately is always on the lookout for new volunteers, so would be very happy if any who would like to help would contact her on 01547 510681

On Friday 22nd November the winter season of Flicks in the Sticks at the Bettws continues with a film that has already attracted widespread attention, Rocketman: based on a true fantasy, this follows the spectacular journey of transformation of Reginald Dwight from shy piano prodigy at the Royal Academy of Music, through his influential, enduring musical partnership with Bernie Taupin, into becoming flamboyant international superstar Elton John. It stars Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Richard Madden and Bryce Dallas Howard. Take-off is at 7.30 pm. For further info, contact 01588 640233.

Please make a note in your diary of the Carol Service on Sunday 22nd December at 7.00 pm.

Harvest Thanksgiving in the Church at 7 pm on Friday 4th October, immediately followed by the Harvest Supper in the Parish Hall. Farming is the reason these hills are maintained as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Harvest Thanksgiving central to our sense of community, a time when we all gather from our far-flung homes to celebrate together. Everyone is most welcome to attend.

Many thanks to Valerie and Richard for hosting the September Coffee Morning at The Quabbs Cottage on a fine morning in our late-lamented Indian Summer. The 100 Club draw, as you will remember, was drawn in August, thereby releasing Peter for his honeymoon with Josie.

On Friday 22nd November the winter season of Flicks in the Sticks at the Bettws continues with a film that has already attracted widespread attention, Rocketman: based on a true fantasy, this follows the spectacular journey of transformation of Reginald Dwight from shy piano prodigy at the Royal Academy of Music, through his influential, enduring musical partnership with Bernie Taupin, into becoming flamboyant international superstar Elton John. It stars Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Richard Madden and Bryce Dallas Howard. Take-off is at 7.30 pm. For further info, contact 01588 640233.

Please make a note in your diary of the Carol Service on Sunday 22nd December at 7.00 pm.

Sadly, no-one has come forward to host November Coffee Morning and, by the time you read this, the 100 Club Draws for November and December will have been held at the October Coffee Morning in the Parish Hall.

The lack of a Coffee Morning highlights the always precarious state of the Church finances and underlines our continuing need for fundraisers. If anyone has any good ideas for fundraisers, please do contact Valerie Whately at valerie.whately@btinternet.com or Sheila Davies on 01686 670627.

Many thanks to Jenny and David for hosting the July Coffee Morning at Tack Barn, where Jenny had baked some wonderful accompaniments to the coffee. The results of the 100 Club draw were: 1st Geoff Smith, 2nd Ted Pugh, 3rd Mike and Barbara Dawe.

Many thanks to Brigid and Paul for hosting the August Coffee Morning at Tyn-y-Vron, where the Raffle Table was so well-stocked that the Rev. Simon had to declare the holders of lucky tickets could receive more than one prize or we would all have had to stay the night. We took the chance to draw the 100 Club draw for September (thereby allowing Peter to skip off for his honeymoon with Josie) and the results were: 1st Roger Garfitt, 2nd Bonnie Dobson, 3rd Margaret Magowan.

The October Coffee Morning will once again be held in the Parish Hall on Saturday 19th October, 10.30 – 12 pm, hosted by Jude Powell, whom we must also thank for co-ordinating the Coffee Mornings throughout the year. Do turn out in force to show our appreciation to Jude.

Flowers and Cleaning: Joy Greenall and Gill Binks

Many thanks to Gill Binks of Ireland Cottage and Chris and Dick Smith of Badger Moor for hosting two very successful Coffee Mornings in May and June. It’s wonderful to see the attendance at Coffee Mornings coming up to full strength again. The results of the 100 Club draws were: for May, 1st Stan Wheeler, 2nd Glenys Adams, 3rd Lyn Reynolds; for June, 1st Rosemary Bufton, 2nd Susie and Rebecca Gough, 3rd Nancy Adams.

ST MARY’S CHURCH, BETTWS-Y-CRWYN

The July Coffee Morning will be held at Tack Barn on Saturday 20th July, 10.30 – 12 pm. Gallant of Jenny and David to take this on after hosting their Summer Party in June and we thank them for their warm hospitality.

The following Saturday, 27th July at 2.30 pm in St Mary’s Church sees a very happy event, the Wedding of Peter and Josie. They both do a great deal for the Bettws, Peter running the 100 Club and helping with the Churchyard Rota and Josie selling her cards and prints to raise funds for the Church and the Parish Hall, and they are inviting everyone to join them in the Church for the wedding and wish them well before they go off to the reception, which will be a small family occasion.

The Churchyard Rota seems to be working well and we would like to thank everyone who turned out for the first Working Party and the induction into the running of the new mower.

Flowers and Cleaning for July: Delphine Whately and Chris Smith.

ST MARY’S CHURCH, BETTWS-Y-CRWYN

Many thanks to Sheila Palmer for hosting such a successful Coffee Morning and to everyone for turning out in strength to support her. It makes such a difference to the atmosphere of a Coffee Morning when everyone is there and it becomes a real community event. Many of us took the opportunity to give our warmest wishes to Greg and Ellie, our Australian visitors, as they embark on the next stage of their journey through the Old Country and move to North Yorkshire.

The results of the 100 Club Draw were 1st Terry Bufton, 2nd David Gough, 3rd Sue Adams.

Chris and Dick Smith will be hosting the June Coffee Morning at Badger Moor on Saturday 8th June, 10.30 to 12pm. and we thank them for their warm hospitality. It is always a pleasure to visit Badger Moor with its extensive grounds. Last time we were there, children were seen happily disappearing into the depths of the wood. Fortunately, they did reappear.

Thelma and John Davies have tended our Churchyard for more years than anyone can remember. Our heartfelt thanks go to them for all they have done to make it the best kept churchyard imaginable.

It is a hard act to follow. We are trying to create a scheme where groups of people will take responsibility for the churchyard for one month in the Summer. The Whately Family has offered to do July. We need volunteers for June, August, September – and possibly October. If neighbourhoods would band together to form groups, that would be wonderful. The brand new mower would need to be used fortnightly (unless people are willing to ride on it more often) and some strimming and mowing alongside paths. Please let Valerie Whately know or any member of the PCC if you are willing to join in. Valerie’s phone is 01547 510681, email valerie.whately@btinternet.com

Flowers and Cleaning for June: Thelma Davies and Margaret Garfitt.

ST MARY’S CHURCH, BETTWS-Y-CRWYN

Warm thanks once more to John and Thelma for hosting the January Coffee Morning in their new home in Newcastle. The snow and ice held off and it was wonderful to see so many packed into the house and eagerly following the progress of the Raffle, so generous in its provision that there seemed to be prizes for everyone. The results of the 100 Club Draw were: 1st Alan Wilson, 2nd Harold Kinsey, 3rd Sheila Davies.

There is no Coffee Morning in March but we will be gathering at the Old Vicarage for the last of the Winter Evensongs, followed by tea and cakes around Anne’s kitchen table. Many thanks, Anne, for hosting this each year, one of the occasions that makes the Bettws such a special community.

Another way to show our strength together is to join the Electoral Roll for St Mary’s, which entitles you to vote at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting and to stand for election to the Deanery Synod if you would like to become more involved in the life of the Church. The Roll is revised every few years and Nancy will be emailing the forms for you to return by the 24th of March and delivering some by hand to those who are not on email. If you are not on the Roll and would like to be, please email Nancy, nancy@adamsanchor.co.uk or ask someone to email her for you.

Has there ever been such a resplendent spring for snowdrops? Rich rides of them either side of the drive to the back gate of the church and bright pools of them in the churchyard itself, all thanks to Sheila Pearson who planted them with the help of Lily Roberts.

Next winter we should be able to step out of church into light, thanks to a generous grant from the Windfarm that will pay for lights along the paths to both gates and enable us to buy a new lawnmower to keep the churchyard in trim. We are very grateful, both to the Windfarm Trust and to Valerie Whately who campaigned for the much-needed lighting and saw the application through.

Flowers and Cleaning for March (Cleaning only during Lent): A.Steadman, D. Gough, T. Davies.

Flowers and Cleaning for March (Cleaning only during Lent): A.Steadman, D. Gough, T. Davies.

We are also very grateful to Anne Beesley for hosting Evening Prayer at the Old Vicarage from January until the end of March, another of those special Bettws occasions when we all gather round Anne’s kitchen table afterwards for bowls of her sustaining homemade soup.

Our Bettws occasions have been sadly diminished in recent months by the passing of Mick Harrison, whose humorous presence always added warmth to the Coffee mornings and Parish Hall events. There was no funeral as Mick was not a churchgoer and his body was donated to medical science but he has been much missed and we send our deepest sympathies to Sheila.

The January Coffee Morning will be hosted by John and Thelma Davies at Maes-y-Garn on Saturday 21st, 10.30 – 12 pm, and we look forward to gathering in good numbers, as we always do at John and Thelma’s, and exchanging all our news after the Christmas and New Year Holidays.

That evening we can all gather again at 7.30 at the Parish Hall for a Quiz and Hot Pot Supper, organised by Delphine Whately in aid of the Church and the Parish Hall. Last year’s event was a roaring success, drawing quiz fiends from the length of the valley and we hope to see the Hall full once again, everyone’s heads bent over their tables as they cudgel their brains. Please ring Delphine on 01588 640233 to reserve a table for a team of four or a family group. Tickets will be £7.50 for adults, £3 for children.

Merry Christmas, everyone! Many thanks to our Churchwardens, the members of the PCC, the ladies on the Cleaning and Flowers Rota, John and Peter on the Churchyard Team, and everyone who has kept the Church and the Parish Hall running through the year. Please note that from January 2017 the price of the Parish Magazine will rise to £6 a year. Please send any news of forthcoming events by email to me at margaretgarfitt@yahoo.co.uk or give me a ring on 01547 510619.

Many thanks to the Wilkinsons for hosting the September Coffee Morning at Brookside Cottage, a chance to meet some of our friends from the other side of the valley that we don’t always see. The results of the 100 Club draw were: 1st Mr & Mrs Watkins (Fernlea), 2nd Michael Webster, 3rd David Hill.

The results of the 100 Club draw for July, not available when we last went to press, were 1st Richard Whately, 2nd Terry Bufton, 3rd Sheila Davies.

On October 2^nd Bishop Richard was with us for our Communion Service. As always the church looked beautiful, the sun shone, and the Newcastle congregation joined us to swell the voices in song – most of which was unaccompanied, since the organ decided to add a solitary loud note to the proceedings. Afterwards many of us travelled to Clun for a magnificent lunch, rounding off a very pleasant occasion for meeting our bishop. Many thanks to those who provided it, it was truly splendid.             Valerie Whately

The WI will be holding their AGM at their usual Wednesday evening meeting on 9th November, 7.30 in the Parish Hall. Eleanor Mason will be speaking on The British Red Cross, the Competition will be for a Jar of Chutney, and as always, everyone will be most welcome.

On Friday 18th November at 7.30 pm in Newcastle Community Centre there will be a Light-hearted Variety Concert to raise funds for St Mary’s Church and Cancer Research. A Bar has been applied for and there will be a Raffle. The Special Guests will be The Radnorshire Twerzels and Comedian Emrys Breeze, together with a whole host of local artists, including Mark on guitar. Entry will be £8 on the door and will include light refreshments, a small price to pay for what promises to be a great evening. Further Details from Sheila Davies on 01686 670627.

The November Coffee Morning will be held in the Parish Hall on Saturday 26th. It will run from 10.30 to 12 pm with the usual Raffle and Bring & Buy Stall, graced by some wonderful local produce, and everyone will be most welcome.

That evening will see the return of what, thanks to Delphine Whately, is becoming a most enjoyable event:

flicks in the sticks DAD’S ARMY (PG)  Bettws-y-crwyn parish hall   (sy7 8ph) on saturday 26th november 2016 at 7:30 pm Tickets Adult: £4.00   Child: £2.00   Family: £10.00 Enquiries 01588 640233

From the Registers: 8th October Marriage of Bryony May Whittall to Daniel Robert Jones

ST MARY’S CHURCH, BETTWS-Y-CRWYN

Many thanks to Gill Binks for hosting the May Coffee Morning, which became a thoroughly European occasion with the presence of two German boys from the Old Vicarage and two Spanish Wooffers from Fos-y-Rhiew. The results of the 100 club draw were: 1st Bobby Britnell, 2nd Janet Watkin, 3rd David Wilkinson.

The last Sunday in May was the Benefice United Service, when all our friends from down the valley joined us for Songs of Praise and Punch. The Bettws Choir sang beautifully and two varieties of a delicious punch were provided by Joyce Stevens, with Richard Whately a hardworking and genial barman. Many thanks for everyone who helped to make this such a happy occasion on a beautiful spring evening.

The WI will meet in the Parish Hall at 7.30 pm on Wednesday July 13th, when the textile artist Jane Davies will introduce us to her Travels Along the Silk Road. This promises to be a fascinating evening and good preparation for the Summer Outing to West Hope College in August. Don’t be a stranger because new members are always welcome!

The July Coffee Morning will be hosted by Valerie and Richard Whately at Quabbs Cottage on Saturday 23rd, 10.30 to 12 pm. This is another occasion when there’s no need to be a stranger and we thank Valerie and Richard for their generous hospitality.

ST MARY’S CHURCH, BETTWS-Y-CRWYN

The June Coffee Morning was held down in Clun at Jubilee House, the home of Dorothy and Richard Gough, and we thank them for their warm hospitality. The results of the 100 Club draw were: 1st Nicola Russon, 2nd Phillipa Gough, 3rd Mr & Mrs Watkins of Fernlea, Newcastle.

In August the WI will be making their Summer Outing to Westhope College on Tuesday 9th. In September they will be back to their usual pattern, meeting at 7.30 pm on the second Wednesday of the month, in this case the 14th, when Lesley Yeoward will take up a Cocktail Party Theme, “Can You Canape?” The Competition will be for the best Homemade Card.

There is no Coffee Morning in August but on September 24th we will be gathering from 10.30 to 12 pm at Brookside, the home of Christine and David Wilkinson. We thank them for their generous hospitality and everyone will be most welcome.

As soon as the spring flush of grass began, John Davies and David Hill set to work, as usual, to keep the churchyard in trim and it looks a picture. But David’s back problems mean that he’s had to step down from the mower and we must wish him a summer’s ease and express our sincere gratitude for all his work in recent years. Peter Morris has gallantly taken over from David but many hands would make much lighter work of it and John and Peter would be glad to hear from anyone who would be willing to put in two or three hours a month until the frost sends the grass into its winter sleep. If you fancy a little healthy exercise in good company, please give John Davies a ring on 01588 640654.

ST MARY’S CHURCH, BETTWS-Y-CRWYN

The February Coffee Morning was hosted in the Parish Hall by Jude Powell and David Hill. We thank them for the warm atmosphere they created and we thank Jude for all the time she puts in throughout the year to arrange the Coffee Mornings and produce the posters.

The results of the 100 Club Draw were: 1st Caroline at Crossways, 2nd Mrs Bufton, 3rd Viola Jones.

The WI will be meeting in the Parish Hall at 7.30 pm on Wednesday 13th April when the speaker will be Mr. Adrian Williams and the theme will be Reading for Laughs – Nowt so queer as folk. The Competition will be for My Favourite Book.

Diana and Robin Lavers will be hosting the April Coffee Morning at Guifron Bank on Saturday 23rd, 10.30 to 12.00 pm. Everyone is most welcome to attend and what better way could there be to see in St George’s Day and wish William Shakespeare a Happy Four Hundredth Birthday?

The AGM of the Parochial Church Council will be held at Clun School at 7 pm on Thursday 28th April. Everyone is most welcome to attend the first combined AGM that brings together all the Clun Valley parishes.

Evensong moves back to the Church, now that we hope the winter cold is behind us, and we thank Anne Beesley for the warm hospitality she provided for the Evensongs in the Old Vicarage.

It is with great sadness that we record the loss of Mrs Hilda Richards, who was a great supporter of the Church and the Parish Hall, which she looked after for many years. Hilda was a bright spirit in the Valley and she will be much missed, both at the Bettws and down in Newcastle, where her family and friends gathered for her funeral on 12th March

ST MARY’S CHURCH, BETTWS-Y-CRWYN

Saturday 16th January was a busy day once again, with John and Thelma’s Coffee Morning very well-supported, despite the ice and snow, and a bumper turnout for the Quiz Night in the Parish Hall, only in its second year but building such a reputation that it attracted some serious quiz fiends from down the valley. Many thanks to John and Thelma, who always put a great deal of work into their Coffee Morning, and to everyone whose efforts made the Quiz night such a success, from the prime movers, Robert Adams and Delphine Whately, and the Quizmaster, Ted Whately, to the generous cooks and kitchen staff and Mike Steadman on the bar.

The results of the 100 Club Draw, drawn at the Coffee Morning, were: 1st Megan Williams, 2nd Lisa Gilby, 3rd Dorothy Edwards.

We are delighted to report that Peter and Josie are taking over the running of the 100 Club after the sad loss of Brenda. Please give them a warm welcome if they turn up on your doorstep one fine day in June. We wish them godspeed as they thread their way through the byways of the Bettws and we promise to send out a search party if they haven’t reappeared by the middle of July.

The 100 Club is just one of the ways in which our small church contrives to support itself. One element of that, the Parish Share which provides, among other things, for the services of our Vicar, will be under discussion at the PCC Meeting in the Parish Hall on Tuesday 8th March, 7.30 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend and we particularly invite any suggestions that might help to ensure the future survival of St Mary’s.

There is no Coffee Morning in March, to leave people free for the exigencies of the lambing, but the WI will be meeting on 9th March, 7.30 pm in the Parish Hall, when Mrs Pat Pitwood will be imparting The Gift of the Gab. The Competition, no doubt in honour of the Pitwoods’ beautiful garden, will be for A Gardening Tip.

We were sad last month to lose Mrs Bufton, Terry’s mother, who has been buried alongside her husband in Clun She celebrated her hundredth birthday last year and must surely have been our oldest inhabitant. We send our deepest sympathy to Terry and Rosemary and the family, and also to the family of Mrs Bufton’s neighbour, Bill Greenwood, who died on 25th January.

From the Registers:

12th February 2016: Funeral and burial of William Greenwood.

Bettws-y-Crwyn Flicks in the Sticks

Saturday, 5^th March at 7:30 pm

PADDINGTON

 Cert: PG  (Adults £4, Children £2, Family Ticket £10)

Starring: Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters and Ben Wishaw as the voice of Paddington.

Whishaw’s hot-tea-and-honey voice is so ideal that it’s impossible to imagine anyone else ever being considered .And now, the even better news: the film around him is a total delight, as warm and welcome as a hot pair of socks on a winter morning. It’s also enormously funny in an unmistakably British way. (Robbie Collin)

Not just for children – this is a great film for all ages –  providing an evening of laughter and enjoyment.  There will be Marmalade Cake ( Valerie Whately)

Many thanks to Lisa and Mark for hosting the November Coffee Morning at Castle Gates. The results of the 100 Club draw were: 1st Moira Hurley, 2nd Lisa Gilby, 3rd David Wilkinson.

And warm thanks once again to Anne Beesley for inviting everyone back to the Old Vicarage for Punch and Mince Pies after the Carol Service. This provided the perfect opportunity for our new Vicar and his family to meet our lively community up at the Bettws and we look forward to welcoming them back to our magical hilltop on many other occasions over the coming years. The results of the 100 Club Draw were: 1st Julia Whately, 2nd Ted Pugh, 3rd David Hill.

The only sadness, in the midst of that merriment, was that Brenda Cross was not there to run the Draw herself. We knew how bravely she had been holding off cancer and when she died peacefully just after Christmas, at her daughter’s home in Stratford, we felt the loss of a much-loved friend, someone whose quiet presence, unobtrusive efficiency and wry sense of humour we had come to rely on. It is hard to imagine Coffee Mornings or Songs from the Bettws Ladies’ Choir or Meetings of the WI without her. We may not get a chance to say a formal farewell as her cremation will be in Stratford but we send her daughter our deepest sympathy and our heartfelt gratitude for all that Brenda brought to the Bettws during her years with us.

The February Meeting of the WI will be held at 7.30 pm on the 10th, when Mrs Jane Pugh will give a talk on “The Wonderful World of Wode China”. The competition will be for a small artificial table arrangement.

There will be a Meeting of the PCC at 7.30 pm on the 18th February in the Parish Hall and everyone is most welcome to attend.

The February Coffee Morning will be held in the Parish Hall on Saturday 27th, 10.30 to 12 pm. This will be a Combined Coffee Morning: in other words, we extend a warm invitation to everyone to bring along a game or a quiz or any other diversion they can devise to make the morning go with a swing and raise a few pennies for Church and Hall funds. There will be the usual Bring and Buy and we hope to find the table richly stocked.

A reminder that in the winter months Evensong is held at 6.30 in the warmth of the Old Vicarage, after which we all gather around Anne’s kitchen table for soup and hot rolls.

Bettws-y-Crwyn Flicks in the Sticks

Saturday, 5^th March at 7:30 pm

PADDINGTON

 Cert: PG  (Adults £4, Children £2, Family Ticket £10)

Starring: Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters and Ben Wishaw as the voice of Paddington.

Whishaw’s hot-tea-and-honey voice is so ideal that it’s impossible to imagine anyone else ever being considered .And now, the even better news: the film around him is a total delight, as warm and welcome as a hot pair of socks on a winter morning. It’s also enormously funny in an unmistakably British way. (Robbie Collin)

There may be marmalade cake (Valerie Whately)

ST MARY’S CHURCH, BETTWS-Y-CRWYN

Many thanks to Lisa and Mark for hosting the November Coffee Morning at Castle Gates. The results of the 100 Club draw were: 1st Moira Hurley, 2nd Lisa Gilby, 3rd David Wilkinson.

And warm thanks once again to Anne Beesley for inviting everyone back to the Old Vicarage for Punch and Mince Pies after the Carol Service. This provided the perfect opportunity for our new Vicar and his family to meet our lively community up at the Bettws and we look forward to welcoming them back to our magical hilltop on many other occasions over the coming years. The results of the 100 Club Draw were: 1st Julia Whately, 2nd Ted Pugh, 3rd David Hill.

The only sadness, in the midst of that merriment, was that Brenda Cross was not there to run the Draw herself. We knew how bravely she had been holding off cancer and when she died peacefully just after Christmas, at her daughter’s home in Stratford, we felt the loss of a much-loved friend, someone whose quiet presence, unobtrusive efficiency and wry sense of humour we had come to rely on. It is hard to imagine Coffee Mornings or Songs from the Bettws Ladies’ Choir or Meetings of the WI without her. We may not get a chance to say a formal farewell as her cremation will be in Stratford but we send her daughter our deepest sympathy and our heartfelt gratitude for all that Brenda brought to the Bettws during her years with us.

The February Meeting of the WI will be held at 7.30 pm on the 10th, when Mrs Jane Pugh will give a talk on “The Wonderful World of Wode China”. The competition will be for a small artificial table arrangement.

There will be a Meeting of the PCC at 7.30 pm on the 18th February in the Parish Hall and everyone is most welcome to attend.

The February Coffee Morning will be held in the Parish Hall on Saturday 27th, 10.30 to 12 pm. This will be a Combined Coffee Morning: in other words, we extend a warm invitation to everyone to bring along a game or a quiz or any other diversion they can devise to make the morning go with a swing and raise a few pennies for Church and Hall funds. There will be the usual Bring and Buy and we hope to find the table richly stocked.

A reminder that in the winter months Evensong is held at 6.30 in the warmth of the Old Vicarage, after which we all gather around Anne’s kitchen table for soup and hot rolls.

Many thanks to Jude and David for hosting the September Coffee Morning at the Parish Hall, a most agreeable event where the space of the Hall allowed us all to be together in a relaxed atmosphere that made for some good conversations. The results of the 100 Club draw were: 1st David Hill, 2nd Mick Harrison, 3rd Kieran Connolly.

Lisa Gilby and Mark Bolton will be hosting the November Coffee Morning on Saturday 21st at Castle Gates Farm (formerly The Lawn) and we thank them for their generous hospitality. It will run from 10.30 to 12 pm with the usual Raffle and Bring & Buy Stall, graced by some wonderful local produce, and everyone will be most welcome.

The following Saturday, 28th November, the Parish Hall will be holding its first ever Film Night, an occasion designed to bring families together, all watching the same screen rather than being fixated on in their I-pads. The chosen film is Dark Horse, a terrifically enjoyable true story about a group of friends from a workingmen’s club in the Valleys who raise a horse on their allotments and take it to the top of the racing world. Doors open at 7.30 pm and tickets are £4 each or £10 for a Family ticket that covers two adults and three children. We can’t promise a glamorous usherette with a tray in the interval but ice creams, tea and coffee will be available and there will be a Bar.

Two Dates for your Diary: the Carol Service, Sunday December 20th, 6.30 at the Church, followed by mulled wine and mince pies at the Old Vicarage, and a Quiz Night & Supper in the Parish Hall, Saturday 11th January 2016 at 7pm.

Many thanks to Wendy and David Lambourne for hosting the July Coffee Morning on a fine summer’s morning on which it was a positive delight to wander the intricate paths of the garden they have created. The results of the 100 Club draw were: 1st Jane Christie, 2nd Andrew Davies, 3rd Anne Beesley.

These were sad months in that they were marked by the loss of three valued members of our community. Andrew Garnett had been cremated in London after his swift and tragic death from cancer but on 26th July his ashes were buried in the churchyard, looking down the valley towards the Old Barn where he and Bonnie had made such a spacious, light-filled home. The churchyard was full to bid him farewell.. We do feel for Bonnie in her loss and we are so glad that she will still be spending time in the valley.

On 17th August both the church and the churchyard were full to overflowing for the funeral of Margaret Adams, an absolute pillar of our church and our community in that she did so much towards the running of the Parish Hall and was a founder member of the Bettws Ladies Choir. All of us will have warm memories of Margaret and we send our heartfelt condolences to her family.

On 9th September we joined Alan Wilson and his family to say farewell to Mary, whose lovely smile we shall miss from our Coffee Mornings and all the gatherings in the Parish Hall. The family gave their own distinctive character to the funeral with her daughter Lara and her two sons voicing her elegy and Alan reading a poem he had written for her.

Fortunately the Bettws’ own history gave rise to a much happier occasion on 15th August when Becky Floate, a priest’s granddaughter, married Jack Tavernor, the grandson of another priest who had actually been Vicar of the Bettws in the 1940s. Both priests were there to conduct the ceremony and Jack’s grandfather wrote in the visitors’ book how pleased he was to see his old church so well kept and loved.

The Harvest Festival Service will be held on Friday October 9th at 7.00pm, followed by the Harvest Supper in the Parish Hall, to which everyone is most warmly invited. Some volunteers will be gathering to decorate the Church on the afternoon of Thursday 8th October and others will be adding their own touch in their own time.

The October Coffee Morning will be held in the Old Vicarage on Saturday October 17th, jointly hosted by Anne Beesley and Margaret Garfitt. It will run from 10.30 to 12 pm and everyone is most warmly invited to join us. Ann and Margaret are stepping in because Jude Powell, who runs the Coffee Mornings, reports that everyone she has spoken to seems too busy to spend an hour and a half every two years helping to keep the church going. What frantic lives we all lead! But perhaps there is someone reading this who would love to have some happy company, excellent cakes, laughter, noise and bustle and the possibility of winning a raffle – all in your own kitchen! If you are that someone, don’t be shy – phone 01547 610367 or email dogshade@btopenworld.com and Jude will book you a Saturday morning party – FREE!

From the Registers

Burial of Ashes  Andrew William Garnett   26th July

Funeral and Burial   Margaret Lilian Adams   17th August

Funeral and Burial   Mary Ruth Wilson   9th September

Marriage   Rebecca Jane Floate to Jack Thomas Tavernor   15th August

The June Coffee Morning was held at Black Mountain Farm and we thank Jane and Steve Christie for their warm hospitality. The results of the 100 Club draw were: 1st David Hill, 2nd Gwlithyn Gough, 3rd John & Carolyn Lyden.

August will be a quiet month but September will be very active, with the Church welcoming the walkers and cyclists of Ride & Stride on the 15th and a Car Treasure Hunt in aid of the Parish Hall at the end of the month – date not fixed yet but look out for the posters.

Jude Powell will be hosting the September Coffee Morning in the Parish Hall on the 19th, 10.30-12 pm. This will be our first gathering after the summer, a chance to catch up on family news and foreign travels, and everyone will be most welcome.

Advance notice of the Harvest Festival & Supper: Friday October 9th at 6.30 pm.

The June Coffee Morning will be held on Saturday 27th, 10.30 to 12 pm, at Black Mountain Farm, hosted by Steve and Jane Christie and the world’s friendliest wolfhound. We thank them for their generous hospitality and everyone will be most welcome to attend. If anyone else is willing to host a Coffee Morning – a lovely institution that does so much to keep us all in touch and in good spirits – please contact Jude Powell Hill on 01547 510367 or by email: dogshade@btopenworld.com

The April Coffee Morning was hosted by Peter and Josie, which gave many of us the chance to look intently at Josie’s paintings and buy some of the beautiful prints that were on sale, not least Autumn Sycamores, the cover painting from her exhibition in Bishop’s Castle. We eagerly await a print of Rush Hour at the Bettws, which shows – what else? – the crossroads blocked by a runaway bunch of sheep.

The results of the 100 club draw were: 1st Richard Gough, 2nd Mr & Mrs George, 3rd Andrea Troth. Next year’s tickets go on sale this month and Brenda Cross and her helpers will shortly be presenting themselves at your doors. Many thanks to Brenda for running the Club so efficiently all through the year.

The Annual General Meeting of the Parochial Church Council was held in the Parish Hall on 27th April. Valerie Whately was elected as Churchwarden to serve alongside Anne Beesley, who is remaining in post. Nancy Adams will continue to serve as Secretary, Margaret Garfitt as Treasurer and Joy Greenall as our Representative on the Deanery Synod. The PCC would welcome some new members and would be delighted to hear from anyone who is interested. There are only four meetings a year and it is a chance to contribute to the strong sense of community that makes the Bettws such a special place to live. Please get in touch with Anne, Valerie or Nancy.

The February Coffee Morning was held at Quabbs Cottage and we thank Valerie and Richard Whately for their warm hospitality. Perhaps this is also the moment to thank Valerie for all the patience and expertise with which she draws up the Service Schedule and the Readers’ Rota, not to mention her recent work on updating the Parish Profile, a constant, quiet background of support that it’s easy to take for granted but without which the parish simply could not run, particularly during the interregnum.

The results of the 100 Club Draw were: 1st Hannah Whately, 2nd Anne Beesley, 3rd Mr & Mrs Goslin.

The Annual General Meeting of the Parochial Church Council will be held in the Parish Hall at 7.30 pm on Monday 20th April and everyone is most welcome to attend.

Peter and Josie will be hosting the April Coffee Morning at Sycamores Cottage, The Quabbs, on Saturday 25th April, 10.30 to 12.00 pm. Once again, everyone is most welcome to attend and we look forward to a good gathering to welcome in the Spring.

Building on the success of the Quiz Night, the Parish Hall has now acquired a screen and a projector, so look out for a Film Night – Flicks in the Real Sticks!

Have your faculties survived Christmas and New Year? If so, perhaps you can stretch your memory all the way back to November and the Afternoon Tea Party hosted at the Old Vicarage by Anne Beesley and yours truly. Many thanks to you all for turning out in such good numbers and making it a real success. The results of the 100 Club draw were: 1st Gwlythin Gough, 2nd Sheila Davies, 3rd David & Jenny Lohman.

At the end of November you did it again and turned out in record numbers for the Variety Concert in the Parish Hall, organised by Sheila Davies with an enthusiasm that proved absolutely irresistible and meant there was standing room only! The stars of the show were the Llanbadarn Girls, whose CD is now available at a very reasonable price from Beguildy Post Office, with the proceeds going to charity. We thank them most warmly and their musical director, Andrew Thomas. They were ably supported by a host of local talents, not least the Two Gareths singing duets and the Bettws Ladies Choir performing to the very high standard that characterises them these days. Ruth Gittins accompanied three of her students, Katie, Olivia and Valerie as they sang their solos, Ben Christie sang to the guitar, Paul Woodhall showed a masterly command of the organ, which can have a mind of its own, and Five Funny Ladies – Jude, Sue, Josie, Wendy and Jean – had everyone in fits with their sketch. Overall a resounding success, which leaves just one question for Sheila: can you top it next time?

We are very grateful to the Rev Graham Lloyd, who conducted the Carol Service with great warmth and good humour, to the local children who performed bravely to a packed church, and to the Young Farmers, who not only read for us but made a generous donation. The good humour flowed up the hill to the Old Vicarage, where it received a considerable boost from the potent punch prepared by Roger Tydeman to Jock’s timeless recipe. Many thanks to our three tireless jugmeisters, Nick, Peter and Richard, who had to move with great dexterity through rooms that were bursting at the seams, and to Anne and her family for keeping up this lovely local tradition in such style. The results of the 100 Club Draw, drawn discreetly amid the hubbub, were: 1st Alan & Mary Wilson, 2nd Bella Whately, 3rd John Davies.

On a practical note, we should also thank everyone who turned out for the Working Party, an urgent priority once we had received the Quinquennial Report on the upkeep of the church. Fortunately the sun shone that morning and there was great goodwill and some lively banter as we cleared the gutters and drains under the expert guidance of Terry Bufton.

The February Coffee Morning will be hosted by Valerie and Richard Whately at the Quabbs on Saturday 21st, 10.30 to 12 pm. Do come and keep up the good spirit that made 2014 such a memorable year for the Bettws.

Many thanks to David and Jude for hosting the October Coffee Morning and to everyone for giving them such strong support. The results of the 100 Club draw were: 1st Ann Davies, 2nd Steve Christie, 3rd Mick Harrison.

The January Coffee Morning will be hosted by John and Thelma Davies at Maes-y-Garn on Saturday 17th, 10.30 – 12 pm. John and Thelma are such pillars of the community that this is always a real gathering of the clans, an event not to be missed.

But our community could do with some more pillars or even a T-truss or two. Would you like to host a coffee morning in aid of the church and parish hall? It is a great way for the community to get together once a month. We are all very busy so it’s good to take a little time for our neighbours; just an hour and a half on a Saturday morning, or you could have an afternoon tea. If this appeals to you, please call 01547510367 or e-maildogshade@btopenworld.com  –   Jude would love to hear from you and you can choose your date. Next year February and April are free so far.

The Carol Service will be held on December 21st at 6.30, followed by punch and mince pies at the Old Vicarage. Once again we are grateful to the Young Farmers for undertaking the readings at the Carol Service and to Anne Beesley for hosting the gathering in the Old Vicarage, such a merry occasion in the best traditions of Christmas that even Mr Pickwick would not feel out of place.

This year we have the privilege of holding the Christmas Day Service as well, a joint service with Newcastle who will be joining us at St Mary’s, Bettws at 9.45 am, early enough not to hold up the Turkey. Let’s all be there to sing that special verse reserved for Christmas Day, “Yea, Lord, we greet thee, Born this happy morning!”

From January until the end of March, Evening Prayer will be held in the warmth of the Old Vicarage at 6.30., followed by the usual gathering around the kitchen table for soup and rolls and neighbourly conversation. The first Evening Prayer is on January 25th. Thereafter please check in the magazine for the dates, which are also posted in the Church porch and on the gate.

This seems the right moment to thank everyone for their hard work throughout the year to keep the Church running in the absence of a Vicar, in particular Valerie Whately for organising the services, Anne Beesley for accompanying us on the organ, Sheila Davies for expert catering and all the organisation of the fundraising concert, John Davies and David Hill for keeping the churchyard so trim and Terry Bufton for expert repairs whenever the occasion demands, plus, of course, Nancy Adams, our Secretary. Margaret Garfitt, our Treasurer, Joy Greenall, our Deanery Synod Representative and all the members of the PCC. We have greatly enjoyed our Joint Services with Newcastle this year and we wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.

Many thanks to Diana and Robin Lavers for the innovation of the Afternoon Tea Party, an occasion made memorable by the quality of Rosemary Bufton’s scones and Diana’s cakes. We all enjoyed the more leisurely atmosphere of an afternoon gathering with no duties pressing on us and the Indian Summer creating its illusion of timeless sunlight outside. The results of the 100 Club draw were: 1st Steve & Jessie Richards, 2nd Janet Watkins, 3rd Brenda Lewis.

A whole team of volunteers worked hard cleaning the church and arranging the flowers for Harvest Festival. It looked a picture and we must thank them all most warmly, as well as the Rev Graham Lloyd who took the service and the Bettws Ladies Choir, ably led by Sandra Jamieson, who sang two interesting arrangements with some lovely work in the high voices. Two of our farmers, Richard Adams and Ted Whately, read the lessons and the next generation was represented by our local children who read prayers and poems and presented the fruits of the earth, the highlight of the Festival. Many thanks to Elin, Edward, Isaac, Georgina, William and Sarah, and to Margaret Garfitt and Val Whately who arranged the presentations and put the children through their paces, Val supplying an extra voice as well as reading the Psalm.

We then took the bumpy road over Badger Moor – potholers, please note! – for a delicious and long-lasting Harvest Supper. It was good to see the Parish Hall so full and we must give warm thanks to Sheila Davies and her team of helpers, some of whom had started after breakfast and didn’t get their own supper until it was Horlicks time. The Wine Bar was run by the dynamic duo from the Quabbs, Richard and Peter, who brought their considerable expertise to bear, serving some excellent wine. And speaking of the Parish Hall, don’t miss this!

SPECTACULAR

VARIETY CONCERT

 Saturday 29 November 7.30 pm

Parish Hall, Bettws-y-Crwyn

 The talented, award winning Llanbadarn Girls

Our very own local soloists

Poems, sketches and much more

 Tickets £5 on the door

to include a light supper.

 Held In aid of St Mary’s Church, Bettws

   and the Air Ambulance

 Enquiries to Sheila Davies 01686 670627

 The week before, Anne Beesley and Margaret Garfitt will be hosting another Afternoon Tea Party, this time by a warm glow of firelight: Saturday November 22nd, 3.00 to 4.30 pm at the Old Vicarage. November can be a drear month so let’s light it up in each other’s company and feast on some more of those wonderful scones!

Advance notice of the Carol Service, December 21st at 6.30, followed by mulled wine and mince pies at the Old Vicarage.

Many thanks to Bobby and Martin Britnell for hosting the July Coffee Morning on a pleasant morning with the sun shining into Bobbie’s Studio. The results of the 100 Club draw were: 1st Jean Reynolds, 2nd Joy Greenall, 3rd Mark Bolton.

Many thanks also to Bonnie and Andrew Garnett for hosting the August Coffee Morning which has now become a most welcome addition to the calendar, enhanced by the introduction of the Lucky Dip which offers some lovely surprises.

The Harvest Festival Service will be held on Friday October 10th at 7.00pm, followed by the Harvest Supper in the Parish Hall, to which everyone is most warmly invited. Would all volunteers please gather on Thursday 9th October to decorate the Church for this special occasion.

The October Coffee Morning will be held on Saturday October 25th, 10.30 – 12 pm at Fos-y-Rhiew, the home of Jude and David Hill. Jude goes to the time and trouble of organising the Coffee Mornings throughout the year and we could show our thanks by heading in a merry throng down the well-maintained track to Fos-y-Rhiew, where there is ample parking.

Advance notice of a Variety Concert in the Parish Hall on Saturday 29th November at 7.30 pm. This should be a splendid affair as we have been lucky enough to secure an appearance by the Llanbadarnfynydd Girls, who won this year’s Young Farmers’ Competition, plus a host of local stars. Tickets on the door will entitle you to a light supper and all for the astonishingly low price of £5 a head.

Warm thanks to Valerie Whately and Sandra Davies who are making such a success of the Joint Services we are holding with Newcastle in the absence of a vicar. Details of the services are now posted in the Church porch and on the Church gate as well as appearing in the magazine.

From the Registers

Sunday 20th July

Baptism of Dylan Albert Topping

The June Coffee Morning was held at Jubilee House in Clun, to which the Goughs have moved for what seems to be a very industrious retirement, judging by the range of cakes and plants on sale at the Bring & Buy and the burgeoning of the trees in the back garden. Many thanks to Richard and Dorothy for their warm hospitality. The results of the 100 Club draw were: 1st Roger Tydeman, 2nd Mary Cousins, 3rd Kieran Connolly.

The August Coffee Morning will be held on the 23rd, at Moor Hall Barn, the home of Bonnie and Andrew Garnett, 10.30 to 12 pm. Astute collectors will be well advised to get a signed copy of Bonnie Dobson’s new CD, Take Me For A Walk In The Morning Dew, which has been getting stunning reviews.

In September we are ringing the changes: instead of a Coffee Morning there will be an Afternoon Tea Party, hosted by Robin and Diana Lavers at Guifron Bank on Saturday 27th September from 3.00 to 4.30 pm. This will be a traditional cream tea, with a wealth of scones and cakes on offer, so don’t have a big lunch. Parking is plentiful, so bring all your friends and relatives or simply hire a charabanc. Let’s see the summer out in style!

Advance notice of the Harvest Festival & Supper: Friday October 10th at 6.30 pm.

The May Coffee Morning was held at Castle Gates and we are very grateful to Lisa and Mark for their warm hospitality which more than made up for the unseasonal downpour outside and to all who braved the weather to get there. The results of The 100 Club Draw were as follows: 1st Steve Christie, 2nd Lynn Reynolds, 3rd Wendy Lambourne.

Our farewell to Paul and Carlynn took place at the Lambing Service in Newcastle, the church wonderfully lit by the evening sun and a moving occasion enhanced by the presence of the Bettws Ladies’ Choir, in fine voice under the skilful direction of David Morris, and by the baptism of three gifted Newcastle songbirds, Ruth Gittins and her two daughters. Knowing how much Paul and Carlynn loved St Mary’s on its hilltop, we presented them with a watercolour of the church and the tree-lined drive down from the crossroads. If anyone else would like a copy of this, prints are available from the artist, Josie Crompton. Inevitably, there was sadness as we said goodbye: but Newcastle had generously laid on some refreshments and the way the two congregations came together gave a feeling of renewal in the face of difficulty, a good omen for the joint services with Newcastle which will be a feature of the interregnum and possibly beyond.

That spirit was felt again at the joint Family Service at Bettws on June 8th, led by Sandra Davies. This proved to be a very lively affair, with Ruth Gittins on the guitar leading us in a couple of songs and her daughter Bronwen entertaining us with an action song she had learned on a visit to Hereford Cathedral, her account of which was a story in itself. This had a tonic effect – note the musical pun – and even the hymn singing was much improved. The Family Services are designed for children and it would be wonderful if more of our families came and made them livelier still. Family Services are never too long and won’t hold up the Sunday lunch.  Dates in the Parish Magazine or on the poster on the churchyard gate. Watch out for that poster because it was decided at the last Churchwardens’ meeting that we will no longer be printing the monthly leaflet, CV7.

There will be a meeting of the Parochial Church Council in the Parish Hall at 7.30 on July 10th and everyone will be most welcome to attend.

The Coffee Morning in July will be held on Saturday 26th, 10.30 to 12 pm, at Moor Hall, the home of Bobby and Martin Britnell and the site, of course, of Bobby’s Studio, now a well-known cultural landmark. Do come to this and to the August Coffee Morning on the 23rd, which will be held just up the lane at Moor Hall Barn, the home of Bonnie and Andrew Garnett. Any fans of fine folksinging will know that as a cultural landmark too because Bonnie Dobson has just released a new CD, Take Me For A Walk In The Morning Dew.

Despite a week’s postponement as February filled the dykes to overflowing, a gallant band gathered at Black Mountain for a Coffee Morning that had its own distinctive competition, Guess the Weight of the Wolfhound. Many thanks to Steve and Jane Christie for their warm hospitality.

The winners of the 100 Club Draw were: 1^st Dave Lohman, 2^nd  Susie & Rebecca Gough, 3^rd Viola Jones.

The April Coffee Morning will be held on Saturday 26^th, 10.30-12 pm, at Ireland Cottage, the home of Gill Binks, where the garden should be buzzing with bees, winking with butterflies and ringing with birdsong because Gill specialises in Gardening for Wildlife and will be hosting a demonstration in May. Everyone will be most welcome.

The Evening Services at the Old Vicarage are now at an end and all services will take place in the church. Many thanks to Anne for opening up her home and keeping us all warm and well-fed. The numbers have held up well over the winter and I think we can say the venture has definitely been a success.

During the winter months evening services are held in The Old Vicarage, where Anne Beesley provides a warm welcome, a warm fire and warming refreshments.

Parish Magazine Notes

January’s Coffee Morning at Maes-y-Garn was a great success, making a record amount for Church and Parish Hall Funds. It was given a boost by a particularly well-stocked table at the Bring & Buy, run amid much merriment by Sheila Davies and Carlyn Wignall. People had been generous in turning out their cupboards, not least the Wignalls themselves, and we look forward to more bountiful displays in the future. Many thanks, John and Thelma, for your warm hospitality.

The winners of the 100 Club Draw were: 1^st Ethel Roberts, 2^nd Nancy Adams, 3^rd Dave Lohman.

The Bettws, as we know, is a nest of singing birds and on Saturday 8^th March at 7 pm in the Parish Hall there will be a chance to hear the next generation when the Bettws Ladies Choir host a Concert when local young people, many of them pupils of Kristina Norton and Ruth Gittins, will show off their talents, both vocal and instrumental. Simon Cowell, eat your heart out! Tickets on the door for the astonishingly low price of £5 per adult, which includes refreshments. Do come and form an appreciative audience. Further details from David Morris on 01547 510273.

There is no Coffee Morning in March but please make a note in your diaries of the April Coffee Morning, which will be held on 26^th April at Ireland Cottage, the home of Gill Binks.

The Evening Services will continue to be held at the Old Vicarage until the end of March, starting in the sitting room at 6.30 pm and concluding with soup and rolls around the kitchen table.

We are always looking for new ideas for fundraising. If anyone has any suggestions, please contact Margaret Garfitt on 01547 510619 or email margaretgarfitt@yahoo.co.uk

From the Registers:

Baptisms on Sunday 3^rd November 2013

Thomas Richards

Thomas Smallman

Kiera Smallman.

 The February Coffee Morning will be held from 10.30 to 12 pm on Saturday 15^th at Black Mountain Farm, the home of Steve and Jane Christie. Everyone will be most welcome and we look forward to a happy gathering, even if February lives up to its name and fills the dykes – though it will be hard put to outdo December!

Margaret Garfitt

Nov/Dec 2013

In a rapid rearrangement worthy of Monty Python, the November Coffee Morning was held in December at Quabbs Cottage, the home of Richard and Val Whately. We thank them for stepping into the breach when Margaret Magowan was taken ill in November – good to see you out and about again, Margaret! – and for giving us all such a warm welcome. The 100 Club winners were:

1^st The Reynolds boys (spend it wisely!) 2^nd Cledwyn Swancott, 3^rd Mrs Wheeler.

The church was packed, as usual, for the Carol Service on 22^nd December. The service started with the lovely voice of Olivia Bennett-Jones singing the first verse of ‘Once in Royal David’s City’. We all enjoyed singing the familiar carols, so much an essential part of Christmas, and were privileged once again to have a solo delivered to a very high standard by Kathryn Turpin. The Bettws Ladies’ Choir contributed two carols, one of which, ‘O Holy Night’, has a very interesting history, being one of the anthems of the North in the American Civil War because it contains the line: “Chains shall break, for the slave is our brother.”

The readings were given, as always, by the Young Farmers and it was a pleasure to hear the Christmas story told clearly and audibly. The service was led, in her last appearance for us, by Ann Ogram and everyone present sang lustily. Somehow, the story of the Baby in the manger means so much more in a little, humble, country church than in more exalted surroundings: the lesson begins in humility. Many thanks to all who came to gather together and celebrate this world-changing event.

Jude Powell

 After the Carol Service we all repaired to the Old Vicarage for Punch & Mince Pies, a time-honoured tradition that Jock and Anne Beesley gallantly took on with the house, continuing the generosity of Mary Maughling and all the owners of the Old Vicarage before her. It is quite the happiest occasion of the Bettws year. The Christmas spirit takes visible form, ladled out in steaming glassfulls, and our thanks to Anne and her family for providing it, and to all the helpers who make the evening such a success, should be equally warm.  That generosity continues through the dark months of January, February and March when Evensong and Evening Communion are held in the comfort of the Old Vicarage and we sit around the kitchen table afterwards for hot soup and rolls, a friendly and down-to-earth occasion that always seems to recapture something of the fellowship of the Early Church.

The 100 Club winners for December (drawn after the Carol Service) were:

October 2013

The month opens with a meeting of the Parochial Church Council on Thursday 3^rd October at 7.30 in the Parish Hall. All parishioners are very welcome to attend.

 Friday 11^th October The Bettws Harvest Festival will be held in the Church at 7 pm, followed by the Harvest Supper in the Parish Hall. This is one of the occasions when the community really comes together and everyone will be most welcome. It’s been a true summer, our first for some years, and the weeks of hot sun that followed June’s heavy rain have brought phenomenal growth. We should have much for which to give thanks. Traditionally, everyone on the Flower Rota pitches in to decorate the church the day before and we hope to see you all with arms full of vegetables, fruit and flowers on Thursday 10^th.

Many thanks to Bonnie and Andrew for hosting an August Coffee Morning at Moor Hall Barn, an innovation that they are more than happy to turn into an institution. As this was an extra, there was no 100 Club Draw but there were some real bargains in the Lucky Dip and whoops of delight as they were unwrapped.

Saturday 26^th October The Coffee Morning will be hosted at Fos-y-Rhiew by David and Jude Hill from 10.30 to 12 pm. Jude is our Coffee Morning organiser and it’s David, together with John Davies, who keeps the churchyard in such good trim. A memorable turn-out will be our best way of showing our thanks.

Parish News

Many thanks to Josie and Peter for hosting the May Coffee Morning at Sycamores Cottage. A beautiful spring morning brought us all out like so many bumblebees, sipping coffee on the patio or browsing among the flowers in the garden. Several heads were bent over the snake’s head fritillaries.

The results of the 100 Club Draw were 1^st Mr & Mrs Lohman, 2^nd Bridget Thrivalis, 3^rd Andrea Troth, 4^th Mike Steadman.

The July Coffee Morning will be held on Saturday 27^th from 10.30 to 12 pm at Upper Duffryn, hosted by Ted and Delphine Whately. Everyone will be most welcome.

We shall be having an extra Coffee Morning in August on the 17^th at Moor Hall Barn, the home of Bonnie and Andrew Garnett, running as usual from 10.30 to 12. This is the first time, as far as I am aware, that we have held a Coffee Morning in August and we hope you will enjoy a new venue in lovely surroundings. Who wants to be standing in a queue at the airport when they could simply drive up the lane to Moor Hall Barn?

At the time of going to press, we are only days away from the Flower Festival and we shall carry a full report on that busy weekend in the September magazine, by which time all the organisers, flower arrangers, caterers, waitresses, doormen and stewards will have enjoyed a much needed rest.

The Flower Festival

Despite the wind and the rain, this event was a huge success. The church looked absolutely stunning, and all events were well attended and much enjoyed. We can be justly proud of all that occurred.

Despite the weather people turned out both to attend and to help.

Thanks go to everyone involved, As Ruth sang in the concert – nobody does it better!

Coffee Morning – April 20th

Lambing Service

This year’s Lambing service will take place on May 26th at 6.30at St Mary”s Church. more information will follow

Progressive Lunch

May 5th. Soup at the Church with the Wignalls, Main Meal at Moor Hall with the Britnells , and Puddings with The Lavers and the Whatelys at Quabbs.

3 Courses for £10 – a bargain!  Click here for more information

Tickets from Valerie Whately – 01547 510681, Thelma Davies –   01588 , 640 654 and Sheila Davies – 01686 670627 from March 10th.

The Coffee Morning in September was held at Cwm House, the home of Wendy and David Lambourne. We thank

them for their warm welcome. The 100 Club winners were:

1^st Andrew Garnett, 2^nd Mary & Alan Wilson, 3^rd Terry & Rosemary Bufton, 4^th Philippa Gough

10^th November A Concert with local, young musicians supported by the Bettws Ladies Choir will be held in the Parish Hall at 7 pm. Supper will be served afterwards for a small charge. More details from Lyn Reynolds: 01588 640725

17^th November The Coffee Morning will be at Rose Grove, courtesy of Mary and Peter Salmon, from 10.30 – 12 pm. Everyone will be most welcome.

Advance notice of the Bettws Carol Service on 23^rd December. More details to follow next month.

Everyone needs tea-towels!

The perfect Christmas present. 100% cotton tea towels with a picture of St Mary’s Church, Bettws-y-Crwyn, are available to buy at the very reasonable price of £3.50 each or 3 for £10. They will be on sale after the Bettws Carol Service and can also be bought from Judy Powell: 01547 510367 or email dogshade@btopenworld.com

All proceeds go the Church.

THE BETTWS NEWS in the  PARISH MAGAZINE is now being compiled by Margaret Garfitt who will be very grateful for any items for inclusion.  Please telephone 01547 510619 or email: margaretgarfitt@yahoo.co.uk by the 10^th of each month.

Sunday November 4th

The Service in St Mary’s Church will be recorded as part of a BBC radio play. All are welcome to take part.

April’s coffee morning will be held at Castle Gate Farm ( formerly ‘The Lawn ‘)

More info  here

A last-minute Coffee Morning was held at the Parish Hall in February and I would like to thank Anne Beesley for co-hosting it with me and Thelma Davies and Brenda Cross for running the Bring & Buy Stall.

The 100 Club Draw was 1^st Nancy Adams, 2^nd Trevor Edwards, 3^rd Phyl Adams, 4^th Sheila Davies.

Soup and Puddings in the Parish Hall on Saturday 9^th March happened happily. Thankyou to all who came, cooked and helped in any way, and especially for your generosity. Seventeen Gift Aid envelopes have been opened and counted, producing £149.50 for Christian Aid. A further £40 was given in cash, making a grand total of £189.50, an advance on last year’s total of £148.25. Thirty adults and three children enjoyed the food and the opportunity for plenty of cheerful conversation. The Fair Trade Stall did well too, taking £101.10p, compared with £65.50 last year. Buying fairly traded goods is evidently becoming more popular up the valley! Thankyou, Jenny, for running the stall. And thankyou, Petra, for working out the Gift Aid and letting us know the result so quickly.

Fenella Monk

And a big thank you to you, Fenella, for organising what we all felt was a most enjoyable occasion, bringing everyone together in the most positive way. This seems the perfect moment to give advance notice of the Progressive Lunch on May 5^th, which promises to give us another glimpse of the community at its best. After Morning Service at 12.15, soup will be served at the church – or out in the sun-drenched churchyard! – by our Vicar and his wife, the Rev Paul and Mrs Wignall. Then we will make our way down to Bobby Britnell’s Studio at Moor Hall for the main course and ascend once more, in a carefully designed calorie-burning exercise, for puddings on the high plateau of the Quabbs, where the Lavers of Guifron Bank will be offering one set of temptations and the Whatelys of Quabbs Cottage another. Tickets are £10 per person and it would be very helpful to the caterers if you would please reserve your place by calling Thelma Davies 01588 640654, Val Whateley 01547 510681 or Sheila Davies 01686 670627. All proceeds will go to St Mary’s, Bettws.

The AGM of St Mary’s PCC will be held on Monday April 29^th at 7.30 pm in the Parish Hall and everyone is welcome to attend.

Once again we are struggling to find a venue for the April Coffee Morning so please look out for posters or keep your ear to the jungle telegraph. Anyone volunteering to hold a Coffee Morning will be greeted with choirs of angels and should get in touch with Jude Powell Hill 01547 510367. And any items of Bettws News to me please, Margaret Garfitt 01547 510619 or margaretgarfitt@yahoo.co.uk

All news items for the Bettws, please, to Margaret Garfitt: 01547 510619 or email margaretgarfitt@yahoo.co.uk

(by the 10^th of each month)