Village news from Helen Price – 16th May 2019
Published 13 May 2019
Kings Bromley Gardening Guild
At the meeting in April, Allan Howard reminded everyone about the Best Kept Village Competition, running from 1 May to the end of July and the Open Gardens event to be held in the village on 15-16 June. In addition to the gardens, there will also be Morris Dancing, a jazz concert, knitted creepy-crawlies and fairies, yarn bombing, flower displays in the church and a recital by the Village Harmony Choir. It is planned that the renovations in the Village Hall will be completed by then and formally opened on the Saturday morning at 11am.
Byron Lewis was welcomed to the meeting to talk about ‘Spring Plants’. As usual, he had brought along a lovely display of spring plants available for sale on the evening and at the Lichfield Garden Centre at Curborough. He mentioned the new developments at the garden centre and the very popular coach trips arranged during the year. Advice was given on growing new varieties of plants, including a white clematis, a dark red perennial wallflower and a lovely gold tree heather. Some of the more unusual items included an anti-cat plant, Voodoo Lily bulbs, New Zealand yams, squirrel-proof bird food and very posh hanging baskets!
The meeting on 20 May will be an evening in Janet Stubbings’ and Paul Woolley’s garden, starting at 7pm.
Wednesday Club
There was bright sunshine as we set off for Stratford Upon Avon on May 1st. On the way we stopped for morning coffee at Notcutt’s Garden Centre arriving in Stratford at around 11.45am. Some of us decided to head straight for the river and a 40-minute boat trip on one of the traditional Edwardian cruise launches. The cruise departed from Bancroft Gardens taking us downstream past the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Holy Trinity Church before turning to travel upstream and under the 15th century Clopton Bridge. Once through the bridge the scenery changed with peaceful river banks and meadows and beautiful riverside gardens.
Other members decided to begin their day with lunch, a visit to the shops, a riverside walk, or by exploring the town taking in Shakespeare’s birthplace, his school and the almshouses. Many members also visited Holy Trinity Church where Shakespeare was baptised, worshipped and where he is buried. The Church is approached along an avenue of lime trees, said to represent the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 Apostles and is accessed through massive 15th century doors. There is a small door let into the left-hand door and on this is the sanctuary knocker which fugitives from justice (or lynch mobs!) would grab to claim 37 days safety before facing trial. Inside the church is a medieval font – possibly the font where William Shakespeare was baptized on 2th April 1564. William Shakespeare’s grave is located in the Chancel. He was buried just 2 days after his death on April 23rd 1616. His gravestone bears an epitaph which it is thought was written by Shakespeare himself. It ends with the words:
“Blessed be the man that spares these stones,
And cursed be he that moves my bones.”
After stopping for further refreshments and as the rain began to fall, we made our way back to the coach having spent a very enjoyable day in Stratford.
Next Meeting: Wednesday June 5th 2.30pm, “Photography in France” with Jonathan Nason.
