Pennywell Farm, Devon

Isaac and Rosie with some miniature pigs at Pennywell Farm, Devon.

Sunday School with a difference.

Well, not Sunday School actually: it was a midweek holiday club called 'Starship Discovery' which our church is holding at the moment for over 60 children. A few of the intrepid explorers are at the controls of the spaceship here. (Click on picture to enlarge it)

Some thoughts about Sunday Schools

We watched recently a TV programme about the history of the rise and decline of Sunday Schools. The Sunday School movement was founded by Robert Raikes, editor of the Gloucester Journal, in the late 18th Century. In those days (as today) there were young hooligans on the streets, though the difference then was that the troublemakers were mostly young impoverished children on their day off from work, namely Sunday. He determined to do all he could to better their lot and started a Sunday-school to teach them Christianity, morals, and also how to read and write. Before long, Sunday Schools were opening all over the country. This was greatly opposed by many wealthy people who were afraid that it would raise the poor above their station in life, and they feared it might lead to the horrors which were happening across the Channel in the French Revolution. The Prime Minister, William Pitt, even hoped to pass a law to ban Sunday-schools, though he was overtaken by other events and the law was never passed. Sunday Schools thrived, and at their peak something like 50% of the children in Britain were attending Sunday Schools voluntarily. They peaked in the 1930s, but the real decline in attendance dates from the 1950s onwards, and today only 5% of children go to Sunday Schools.

We meet and talk to many of the older generation who often find it difficult to remember recent events, but can remember with great pleasure their Sunday-School days. They remember the stories they learnt, the anniversaries, the outings, and can often remember the hymns and choruses which they can still sing.

Most of today’s generation of children know nothing of this and will never acquire the knowledge and understanding of the stories, the moral values and the message of the Bible. As street violence, drug and alcohol problems and knife crime flourish in ‘empty soil’, I cannot help feeling that we are in the process of losing something of immeasurable value. The Sunday School (or Junior Church, as it is called), flourishes in our own church as well as Crusaders (now rebranded ‘Urban Saints.) Would that there were many more such drops in the ocean.!

Weston-super-Mare

We visited Weston-super-Mare just a week before the tragic fire which destroyed the pier. The first picture was taken by our friend Barry Blanchard. The second picture was taken one week later, and I got this off the internet. However, there are other attractions at Weston. First, an amazing display of sand sculptures, and then a picture of Wendy with Barry and Pat studying a model of the development at Knightstone Pier, where the old buildings are being converted into luxury apartments.

TLC Garden Party

Our church put on a garden party for Tuesday Lunch Club (TLC), which caters for the older members of the congregation and friends. As last year, we also invited the Corsham Disabled Club to join us. The cream tea was accompanied by a puppet show and music.

Shaftesbury

Wendy with her mum, Joan, at the top of Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, whilst an elderly resident in the background makes the laborious ascent. Joan knew Shaftesbury well in her younger days, when she lived at Gillingham, Dorset. Gold Hill became especially famous as the location of the TV ads for Hovis bread some years ago, though they misleadingly caused people to believe that the location was somewhere in Yorkshire!

At the Pump Room

Wendy enjoys tea and music at the Pump Room in Bath

On our recent visit to Exeter we visited Eva's ballet class to see the progress she and her friends have made since they started.

Junior Church Outing

Our Junior Church outing this year was held at Neston Recreation Ground. Here the children are watching a puppet show.

Hayling Island

We had a brief holiday at Lakeside, on Hayling Island.

Not a lot remains of Warblington Castle, near Havant. It was finally knocked to pieces in the Civil War. (click on picture to enlarge it)

Roses at Southsea

We had a short break with cousin Mary Thurlow at Southsea, which boasts an excellent rose garden situated on the site of the former second world war training base of the 'cockleshell heroes' - the commandoes who broke behind enemy lines in France by canoe. (Click on picture to enlarge it)

Family visit to Alveley

We went to stay with David, Frances and the boys at Alveley with Andrew and Ruth Sims. Our time there included a trip on the nearby Severn Valley Railway, hauled by 7812 'Erlestoke Manor'. For more pictures of our visit, click on http://www.flickr.com/photos/80674038@N00/ and look for pictures dated 12th June 2008

Brecon Mountain Railway

This train ride takes you through some very beautiful countryside. Despite its name it is nearer to Merthyr Tydfil than to Brecon.

David's 65th

Brother-in-law David Beales celebrated his 65th birthday recently. For more pictures of this event, click on this link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/80674038@N00/

where there is an option to click on 'slideshow'.

A get-together at Jill's

for more pictures of relatives from Wendy's side of the family, click on

http://www.flickr.com/photos/80674038@N00/

and scroll through until you get to the pictures dated May 30th 2008

SNAKE AND CHICKENS

Grace is having a close-up look at Frankie the snake, who wants to kiss her with his tongue. (!)

Our neighbours Andy and Zoe have 6 chickens - hatched from bantam eggs which our friend John Miller provided.

A wedding with a difference

We represented the Baker side of the family at the wedding of Sue to George on 16th May. It started with a trip down the canal from Limpley Stoke to Bath. We then walked (in all our finery) to the Guildhall where the marriage took place. Then back by narrowboat to Limpley Stoke where the reception was held alongside their boat 'Galadriel' at Brassknocker Basin.

Transferring food from one boat to the other. We needed it to keep us going on the two-hour journey!

No turning back now!

Sue, where did you buy your dress?? (Hampstead Bazaar, in the middle of Pulteney Bridge).

It is easy to enlarge or download pictures by clicking on them.

For more pictures click on my link to Flickr: on Flickr there is a 'slideshow' option near the top right of the screen. The link is:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/80674038@N00/

Places recently visited

The Black Country Living Museum at Dudley in the West Midlands is well worth a visit. It includes a Victorian village and Canal basin. For more pictures see my photos dated May 9th 2008 on

http://www.flickr.com/photos/80674038@N00/

Goodrich Castle near Symonds Yat is in a stunning location.

The canal at Kinver in the West Midlands passes through beautiful countryside

The view from Alfred's Tower near Stourhead. (National Trust property)

For more of my pictures of all these places, see

http://www.flickr.com/photos/80674038@N00/

and look for pictures downloaded on May 9th 2008

Making Music

Our church worship group having a good sing.

Grace's 7th Birthday

Our oldest grandchild Grace had a swimming party on her 7th birthday: hence the cake with the swimming pool theme. (Click on it to enlarge it). More party pictures are on my flickr site at

http://www.flickr.com/photos/80674038@N00/