Letters to the Editors
Moveable Feast
Dear Editors,
I was overwhelmed by the fantastic response to this year's Moveable Feast, so much so that I had to have a reserve list for those that I had to regrettably turn away because I hadn't anticipated such an amazing uptake, about which I felt awful.
However, 34 brave souls (ad)ventured down onto the fen (sorry about the pun!) to the beautiful home of Linda & Colin Evans and their daughter and son-in-law Jill and John Jordan, for the starter. What a spread! A sumptuous choice of culinary treats awaited us along with a very warm welcome. The guests then departed for their main course destinations and grateful thanks go to Ruth & Robin, David & Annie and Kate for offering up their homes to entertain us. James and I had a diverse and delightful mix of guests and the time went too quickly before heading off back to the High Street at the kind invitation of Pat & Peter and to the most amazing selection of puddings supplied by other "Feast goers". Several participants had taken me at my word and had made this their "first time", and assured me by the end of the evening that it wouldn't be their last, having had such a delightful evening.
A very big thank you to everyone involved. We enjoyed wonderful hospitality, good food and wine, friendship AND made an amazing £491.46 for St. Mary's Church funds - definitely don't miss out on next year!! I promise to be able to accommodate more of you, I'm working on it already, watch this space as they say....
The Water Tower
Dear Editors,
I'll come and photograph it before it's lost. If any of your readers are interested, there is a "British Water Tower Appreciation Society" the web site address is http://www.watertowerproject.org.uk/
Children's Home Donations
Dear Editors,
I would like to say thank you to the residents of Tothill Road who recently gave to a house to house collection on behalf of the National Children's Home. A total of £31.35 has been forwarded to this very worthwhile charity. A website:
has been set up where you will find lots of stories about the children who will be helped with donations such as this, All donations are appreciated, however large or small. Please take a look at the website if you have time.
Any Other Business
Dear Editors
It is a delight I've long been denied - to open the Crier and find Mr Everitt being rude about me when I'm trying to be helpful, re Any Other Business. He's got that AOB in his bonnet, and I can tell he misses my replies, prefacing as he does his criticism of me with the phrase 'as usual' when he knows it's been a while now. People will think we're like those two old dears in Cider With Rosie who go on about each other to a great old age; then one expires and the other does the same within a week, with nothing left to live for. Or like my evil mog - stroke it and it'll bite you eventually - not out of any animosity, just force of habit. But how to respond? I've told everyone we are not adversaries. They'll think either I fibbed or that we're faking it. Or maybe that we can't help ourselves.
Mr Everitt wants the facts and says I don't give him many. So here's some: I've worked in a lot of educational establishments and for a number of examination boards in a lot of years; and I've experienced hundreds of formal meetings with innumerable contributors, from thoroughly equitable through cheerfully oblivious to thoroughly villainous; and well he knows that without a very expensive lawyer I would not be a wise chap to give him any facts on these pages about when and where. But he knows where to find me - I can tell him more whenever he likes.
It is a fact that I refer not to my current employment when I say I have observed AOB utilised as the nastiest and most underhand weapon in the hands of the most machiavellian, and like a blunt power tool in the hands of a child when wielded by the more inept. It is not a safe mechanism. It's another fact that I was explaining entirely theoretically in relation to PCC meetings because I am not making reference to this place or to any other PCC, and if it's not a fact that it was pretty evident when I wrote that last time, I've spelled it out for him now. Why ask for decision making power for a device that is likely to cause discontent and inaccurate decisions just by its very use?
If you are making decisions on behalf of your community the first duty is to be fair, honest and totally open. It's a fact that Mr Everitt wrote 'points not on the agenda can be raised though this may depend on the skill of a member to relate it to some other topic being discussed' - a precise example of the underhand tactics that are sometimes used by someone with their own agenda; and evidence moreover that Mr Everitt does actually have some understanding of underhand tactics, though I'm interested that he uses the word 'skill' to describe them.
I'll expect the sound of the sharpening of Mr Everitt's blade, and to feel the blows of his rapier wit upon the pages of the next issue. But I can't think why he would want to continue, unless it's for the fun of it.
(PS Don't read this, Peter. It'll only confirm your worst fears.)
Old Times, Old Timers
Dear Editors,
I reckon that it's either my speaking that's deteriorated with advancing years or Alastair Everitt's hearing that's not what it was for the same reason, but the latter 'old boy' certainly misheard this 'old boy' at the beginning of the Parish Council meeting on the 10th of January. I remarked then that it was my missus's sixty-eighth birthday, not mine (I am fast approaching seventy years of age, what used to be considered one's 'allotted span,' but I live in hope for a bit more).
And another thing: I hear that Alastair and Elizabeth Everitt are planning to move from Anglesey House, the former home (before he went to live at the Manor House) of my great uncle, Charles Yorke Woollard (1877-1932), to somewhere else in the village. I have told Alastair that were they to go further afield they would both be greatly missed by many in the parish including this reader of The Swaffham Crier.
PS. The aforementioned Charles Yorke Woollard was the third son of my great grandparents, Joshua Samuel Woollard (1844 - 1929) and Martha, nŽe Clark (1849 - 1931). C.Y. Woollard farmed extensively in Swaffham Prior and elsewhere and lived for much of his married life at Anglesey House, moving in about 1924 to the Manor House. He married Winifred Mary Taylor (1890 - 1931), a daughter of William Farrow Taylor (1855 - 1920), founder and owner of the Cambridge Daily News. The wedding was reported in October, 1913, as follows:
" INTERESTING WEDDING WOOLLARD - TAYLOR
THE WEDDING TOOK PLACE at St. Andrew's Church, Chesterton, Cambridge, on Tuesday afternoon of Mr Charles Yorke Woollard, of Anglesey House, Swaffham Prior, third son of Mr and Mrs J.S. Woollard, of Chalk Farm, Bottisham, and Miss Winifred Mary Taylor, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs W.F. Taylor, of 1, Camden-place, Cambridge. A number of members and friends of the two families were present at the ceremony.
The bride, who was given away by her father, looked charming in a dress of white charmeuse, trimmed with applique, and wore a lace veil surmounted by a wreath of orange blossom. Her only ornament was a gold pendant, set with pearls and amethysts, and she carried a sheaf of Madonna lilies and white heather, the gift of the bridegroom. There were seven bridesmaids in attendance upon her, Miss G.M. and Miss C.A. Taylor (sisters), Miss Grace and Miss Janet Woollard (sisters of the bridegroom), Miss Gwen Verrinder (friend of the bride), Miss Marjorie Lacey (niece of the bride), and Miss Joan Woollard (niece of the bridegroom). The five elder bridesmaids wore picturesque dresses of pheasant coloured crepe de chine, with a coatee of a darker shade of brocade, and Juliet caps. They wore pendants and chains, and carried shower bouquets of malmaisons, the gift of the bridegroom. The two little bridesmaids looked charming in dainty frocks of pale pink satin charmeuse, fashioned after the period of Charles I., also wearing pearl necklaces and carrying crooks draped with pheasant-coloured ribbons and malmaisons, the gifts of the bridegroom. Mr Frank S. Woollard (brother) acted as best man. The bridegroom's mother (Mrs J.S. Woollard) was becomingly gowned in a dress of soft black voile, relieved with white, and carried a shower bouquet of light and dark brown chrysanthemums. The bride's mother was attired in a heliotrope gown, with hat to match, and carried a bouquet of pink roses.
The service, which was partly choral, was conducted by the Rev. J. Morgan (Vicar of St. Andrew's-the-Great), assisted by the Rev. Lawrence Fisher (Vicar of St. Mary's, Swaffham Prior). The hymn 'Lead us, Heavenly Father', was sung at the entrance of the bride, and 'The voice that breathed o'er Eden' at the close, whilst the happy couple left the church to the strains of Mendelssohn's Wedding March. After the service a reception was held at 1, Camden-place, where Mr and Mrs C.Y. Woollard received the good wishes and congratulations of a number of relatives and friends. Later in the afternoon they left for Brighton, where the honeymoon is being spent. The bride's travelling dress was a costume of navy whipcord, and a black velvet hat, trimmed with flowers and lace.. The presents included the following:
- Bridegroom to bride - Fitted dressing case.
- Bride to bridegroom - Suit case.
- Bride's father and mother - House linen.
- Bridegroom's father - Cheque.
- Bridegroom's mother - Cutlery, gravy ladle, and sugar tongs.
- Mr C.C. Ambrose - Soup ladle.
- Mr and Mrs G.E. Asbee - Salad bowl.
- Miss G. Bolton - Table centre.
- Mr and Mrs L. Cole - Cheese dish.
- Mr and Mrs A. Cook (Ipswich) - Cheque.
- Mr and Mrs A. Chapman - Fruit knives and forks.
- Mr and Mrs A.R. Chapman - Tea knives.
- Miss J. McCoull - D'oyleys.
- Miss I. McCoull - Slipper ornaments.
- Mr and Mrs W. Child - Salt spoons.
- Mrs Hedley Baxter - Fan.
- Miss Clark - Pair of vases.
- Mr A. Christmas - Case of carvers.
- Master Gordon Chapman - Tea cosy.
- Mr and Mrs C.R. Chamberlin (York) - Fruit knives and forks.
- Mr Caldwell Cook - Clock.
- Misses L.A. Day - D'oyleys.
- Rev. and Mrs L. Fisher - Inkstand.
- Major and Mrs D. Finch - Pendant and chain.
- Mr and Mrs H. Flanders - Coffee maker.
- Mr and Mrs J. Hill - Book.
- Mr C.W. Holland - Pendant and chain.
- Dr. and Mrs G. Johnson - Sugar muffineer.
- Mr and Mrs H. Kent - Muffin dish.
- Mr and Mrs W. Kisby - Serviettes.
- Mr and Mrs A.E. Lacey - Punch bowl.
- Miss Marjorie Lacey - Table centre.
- Misses N. and E. Lacey - Umbrella.
- Mr and Mrs G.H. Lavender - Afternoon cloth.
- Rev. and Mrs J. Morgan - Book.
- Mr and Mrs Maris - Candlesticks.
- Miss M. Maris - Table centre.
- Mr Longhurst Murphy - Rose bowl.
- Mr and Mrs Miller - Sachet bag.
- Mr F. Miller and Miss J. Miller - Revolving bookcase.
- Mr and Mrs Muirhead and family - Coffee maker.
- Mr C. and Misses McNair - Coffee cups and tray.
- Mr and Mrs J. Newman - Salt cellars.
- Mr and Mrs J. Nutter and family - Candlesticks.
- Mr J. Nutter, jun. - Flower vases.
- Miss A. Norton - Serviette rings.
- Mrs Partoon - Tobacco jar.
- Mr and Mrs J.V. Pryor - Toast racks.
- Mr and Mrs C. Palmer - Pair of ornaments.
- Mr J. Palmer - Biscuit barrel.
- Mr and Mrs W.B. Redfern - Fruit spoons.
- Dr. and Mrs G. Roper - Book.
- Mr and Mrs E. Rider - Candlesticks.
- Mrs L. Rees - Set of Chinese mats.
- Mr and Mrs G. Stace - Handbag.
- Mr W. Saint and family - Clock.
- Mr and Mrs E. Saint - Inkstand.
- Mr and Mrs D.J. Scott - Picture.
- Mrs C.W. Taylor - Gate table.
- Mrs W. Taylor - Tea cosy.
- Mrs and Misses Tofts - Cake stand.
- Mr and Mrs T.J. Tompson - Afternoon cloth.
- Misses E. and J. Tompson - Eiderdown quilt.
- Mr and Mrs J. Towler - Set of hot water jugs.
- Mr C.G. Taylor - Tea service.
- Mr A. and Miss C. Taylor - Tea set.
- Miss G. Taylor - Dinner service.
- Master H. Taylor - Book.
- Masters Bobbie and Guy Taylor - Set of carvers.
- Mr and Mrs H.E. Verrinder and Mr R. Verrinder - Cake basket.
- Miss G. Verrinder - Table centre.
- Mr and Mrs W. Woollard - Cheque.
- Mr Frank Woollard - Candlesticks.
- Mr A.L. Woollard - Rose bowl.
- Mr Fred Woollard - Muffin dish.
- Miss D. Woollard - Tea spoons.
- Miss W. Woollard - Tea knives.
- Misses G. and M. Woollard - Fish knives and forks.
- Miss J. Woollard - Salt cellars.
- Miss E. White - Cushion and afternoon cloth.
- Miss Wontner - Mustard pot.
- Mrs, Miss and Miss D. Woollard - Tea spoons.
- Mrs E.A. and R.J. Wadsworth - Card basket.
- Mr A.R. and Miss M.A. Wadsworth - Pair of ornaments.
- Members of the 'Cambridge Daily News' staff - Spirit kettle and pair of pictures.
- A pair of knife rests from 'All at Liberty Hall', Swaffham Prior.
The wedding cake was made by Messrs. Matthew and Son, Ltd., of Trinity-street, who also did the catering at the reception. Mr G.H. Lavender supplied the dresses, and Messrs. R. Sayle and Co. the house linen.' They don't report weddings like that nowadays!