Ringing Room Featured on BBC News

The ringing room makes it on to BBC News, here is the Youtube clip

To visit ringing room, click the link below

www.ringingroom.com

Alan Turner

It is with great sadness to announce Alan Turner, former landlord of 

The Bell, passed away last night.  

I remember starting frequenting the Bell in the early 90's when I became 18. 

It became a regular Monday event after our bell practice.  Alan always kept a 

traditional pub, with well-kept beer with Jan (his late wife) providing great 

cooked meals. 

He started the tradition of giving the bell ringers the leftover sandwiches left by the

Dominoe players, this tradition was followed on by Paul Plant and Alison Heath.

Still, to this day, we have chips with our pint after practice.

I remember often taking my Grandmother for Sunday lunch in the bell.  She 

never liked thinking she was going to 'the Pub'  so we pretended to take her

for a walk and as we approached the Bell would guide her in the direction of 

the Bell. Alan and Jan would welcome us and would seat us at our 'pre-booked 

table'  My Nan really enjoyed her meals, the atmosphere, and hospitality.

There was another time my brother went for a meal one evening.  That night a new

barmaid had served him.  He had his meal and walked home.  The barmaid 

said to Alan 'That man never paid'   Alan replied 'he'll be back when he realises' 

The next morning my brother did realise and just as Alan had predicted the bill 

was paid.

After Alan and Jan retired, they moved to Castlefileds.  Jan sadly passed away 

a few years later.  However, I would often see Alan riding his bike into town 

or along the old railway track.  He would often catch the bus out to the Bell 

on a Monday night to play Dominoes, and occasionally if we both timed it 

right I would give him a lift.

R.I.P Alan

Trevor Lock

home worship for WHITSUN DAY (Pentecost).

Some thoughts on home worship for WHITSUN DAY (Pentecost).

This week's bell-ringing, I've chosen a clip from Hoar Cross Staffordshire:

The treble (smallest bell) is almost twice the weight of Haughton's

Tenor (our heavest). Further details of the bells can be found

here from Dove's Guide.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful people and kindle

them in the fire of your love

HYMN: “Come Holy Ghost, our souls inspire”

Pray the Collect of the day

God, who as at this time taught the hearts of your faithful people

by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: 

grant us by the same spirit to have a right judgement in all things

and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort through

the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Read the Epistle from Acts Chapter 2 verses 1-21

Read the Gospel from St. John Chapter 7 verses 37-39, then St John 

Chapter 20 verses 19-23.

Hymn: “Come down, O love divine”

Some thoughts for Whitsuntide

A class of eight year old children were asked to draw a picture of the

Ascension of Jesus. One little boy did a picture of some clouds and

wrote underneath “Jesus gone!”  The following week they were asked

to draw a picture of the day of Pentecost. The same little boy produced

a picture of some heads with Jesus shaped tongues of fire

descending on them. He called this picture “Jesus back!” 

He was not far wrong. At the ascension Jesus finally departed

this world in bodily form only to return ten days later in spiritual form,

the power of the Holy Spirit.

And power it was for these apostles who had been locked down

for weeks for fear of the Jews were suddenly given new strength

and new hope. They went out into the market place in Jerusalem

and mingled with the vast crowds. Peter, headstrong as always,

got up and began to preach to them, telling them of their own

sins and shortcomings and showing them that their lives could

be turned around completely by becoming followers of Jesus,

The Way as it was first known. Many were convinced by his teaching.

For us after weeks of lockdown, there are at last some hopes

of a break through. When it comes it will come slowly,

but we are being given just the same kind of hope which

came to those apostles all those years ago. They went out

with new strength and new vigour, we Christians must do the

same. It will be so easy to ask, “Is it safe?” and perhaps rightly.

But we need courage to face the world in whatever state

we find it, to be strong to trust in the Lord.

 We must pray for the day, hopefully not too far away when

we can return our friends and relatives, and to our churches.

Worship online, whatever form it takes – and much of what

has been offered over the media during the past couple of

months has been good, and has commanded the attention

of many people who would never have been in church, but,

however good, it can never be a substitute for the face to

face meeting of Christian people in the surroundings of Sunday

Worship for the true fellowship of one another in the presence

of our risen and ascended Lord.

Offer some Prayers

Pray for your own families, friends, and others whom you wish t

o remember.

Pray especially for Sian, Rici Garbett’s daughter with a critical illness

(not Covid) in hospital.

Pray for delivery drivers, posties, and others who come to our homes.

Continue to pray for the doctors, nurses and care workers who tend the sick.

Thank God for the lives of Mark, and Trina, (both one time churchwardens)

and for Doreen (the wife of a churchwarden)

Pray for the future of our parishes and churches,

whatever that future may be.

Thank God for your own safety and well-being and as we look

forward to a more normal way of life pray that we may have the courage

to grasp the opportunities it brings.

Pray this prayer    

Faithful God, who fulfilled the promises of Easter by sending us your Holy Spirit,

and opening to every race and nation the way of eternal life:

open our lips by your spirit, that every tongue may tell your glory;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

And the Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,

Your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today pour daily bread.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom and the power and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

HYMN: “Lord, the light of your love is shining”

The spirit of truth guide you into all truth, give you grace to

confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and strengthen you to proclaim

the word and works of God. Amen.

GEOFF SMITH

Ash Drive Plant Sales Raises £200

Thanks to everyone who supported my plant stall on the 15th May, 

a donation of £200 was sent to the NHS, to be shared equally 

between Royal Stoke University Hospital and the 

County Hospital Stafford.

Many Thanks for your Generosity

Jocelyne Lock.

Stewardship & Management Workgroup Update from the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers

Please click the link to be directed to the Central Website to see the update.

https://cccbr.org.uk/2020/05/22/stewardship-management-workgroup-update-may-2020/  

Washing Machine - For Sale

BOSCH 1400 washing machine

Used only twice

Genuine reason for selling

Bargain at £199

Phone:  Stafford 780411

Picture may differ slightly from actual model.

FOR SALE - Wrought Iron Gate

 Pair of Wrought Iron Gates- Double Size - £35

Telephone: Sue Edwards 780921  

sje46(at)hotmail.co.uk  replace (at) with @

home worship for THE ASCENSION DAY

Some thoughts on home worship for 

THE ASCENSION DAY (Thursday)

Bell Ringing - From Lichfield Cathedral

(Did they know something we didn’t? Vicar looking at his laptop seeing

on screen ‘sermons online.’ The caption underneath: Rev Gary resists

publishing a collection of his sermons!  The Church Times October 2019)

 

Alleluia. Christ is risen.

He is risen indeed. Alleluia

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

The Ascension Day arrives, when we celebrate the final triumph of

our Lord Jesus Christ’s earthly life

Read the Acts of the Apostles Chapter 1 verses 1-11

Then the Gospel from St Luke Chapter 24:44-53

Then pray the Collect of the day

Grant we pray, Almighty God that as we believe your only

Son our Lord Jesus Christ  to have ascended to the heavens,

so we in heart and mind may also ascendand with him continually

dwell: who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever. Amen.

Hymn “Hail the day that sees him 

Pray the Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now

and for ever. Amen

Pray this prayer for our homes

Be present with us, O merciful God, and protect us in these

difficult days, so that we who are wearied by the changes and

chances of this fleeting world, may rest upon your eternal

changelessness: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Lord bless us and watch over us, the Lord make his face to

shine to shine upon us and be gracious unto us.

The Lord look kindly upon us and give us peace. Amen.

And for the SUNDAY AFTER ASCENSION DAY

Alleluia, alleluia, Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful people

and kindle in the fire of your love.

HYMN: “Angel voices ever singing”

Pray the Collect of the day

O God the King of Glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus

Christ with great triumph to your Kingdom in heaven: we beseech you,

leave us not comfortless but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen

us and exalt us to the place where our Saviour isngone before,

who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever. Amen

Read the Epistle from Acts Chapter 1 verses 6-14

Read the Gospel from St. John Chapter 17 verses 1-11

Hymn: “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord”

Offer some Prayers

Pray for your own families, friends, and others whom you

wish to remember.

Pray for delivery drivers, posties, and others who come

to our homes.

Continue to pray for the doctors, nurses and care workers who tend the sick.

Thank God for the lives of Mark, and Trina, (both one time churchwardens)

and for Doreen (the wife of a churchwarden)

Pray for the future of our parishes and churches, whatever that future may be.

Thank God for your own safety and well-being.

Pray this prayer

Come, O Spirit of God, and Make within us your dwelling place

and home. May the darkness be dispelled by your light, and our troubles

calmed by your peace,

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

And the Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

Your will be done on earth as in heaven.

Give us today pour daily bread.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom and the power and the glory

are yours now and forever. Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the

fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you now and always. Amen

HYMN: “O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder”

GEOFF SMITH

Haughton WI - Scrubs for NHS

Haughton's contribution to scrubs for the NHS.  Haughton W.I. also made a cash donation to help purchase fabric.  

Iced Banana Loaf Recipe

Click Here for a Printable PDF

Sent by Suzanne Potts

Home Worship for the SUNDAY BEFORE THE ASCENSION DAY

Sorry about the bell ringing last week, I think I left the video on private. Let's have another go this week....

Some thoughts on home worship for the SUNDAY BEFORE THE ASCENSION DAY

(The streets were full in London, the Victory Day for the European war. The churches were thronged all day with enthusiastic worshippers, alike in the capital and the provinces. At St. Paul’s and the Abbey it was necessary to hold successive services at intervals of an hour throughout the afternoon. The Church Times May 11th 1945)

 

Alleluia. Christ is risen.

He is risen indeed. Alleluia

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

The Ascension Day approaches, when we celebrate the final triumph of our Lord Jesus Christ’s earthly life

The hymn “Alleluia, sing to Jesus”

Read the Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verses 22 to 31

Then pray the Collect of the day

God our Father, whose Son Jesus Christ gives the water of eternal life:

may we thirst for you, the spring of life and source of goodness,

through him who is alive and reigns, now and forever. Amen

Read the Epistle for the day from 1 Peter  Chapter 3 verses 13 to 22

Hymn “Great is thy faithfulness”

Read the Gospel for the day from St. John Chapter 14 verses 15-21

Pray the Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and for ever.  Amen.

Add a few short prayers

Thank God for the lives of Doreen Wheatcroft and Mark Elton.

Continue to pray for any others known to you who are ill or very vulnerable.

Pray for Cath. Brumfit who is to be our new Rector. She is at present a curate at Wheaton Aston.

Offer any prayers of your own.

Pray this prayer for our homes

Visit this home, O Lord, we pray, and drive far from it the snares of the enemy.

May your holy angels dwell with us in peace, and may your blessing be always with us;

Through Jesus Christ our Lord

The Hymn: “I the Lord of sea and sky”

The peace of the Lord be always with you and the blessing the our Lord Jesus Christ 

be with you and those you love, this day and always and the Blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be upon you and those you love this day and for evermore.

GEOFF SMITH

Trina Busby

Trina Busby sadly passed away on Wednesday 13th May.  Trina was Churchwarden for over 25 years, she was always cheerful and always worked really hard ensuring the church was ready for service. She will be dearly missed.

Virus-free. www.avg.com

Fwd: Ash Drive Plant Sale - From 15th May 2020 -

Due to the cancellation of the Village Annual Gardening Guild plant sale, Jocelyne Lock will be selling her bedding plants from the end of her drive (14 Ash Drive). Various lants will be on display from the 15th of May. All donations left in the box provided will be donated to the NHS

Ruth Fairbrother

I was saddened to learn Ruth Fairbrother had passed away earlier this week.  Ruth was a regular visitor to our Monday night practice at Haughton for many years, just after the bells were re-hung in 1998.  Although her husband Ted could ring, he used to play Billiards in the GEC MRI Club at St. Leonard's Avenue, Stafford, on Mondays, and so Ruth used to drop him off on the way to Haughton., as they lived at Walton-on-the-Hill.  Sometimes there were no Billiards, so Ted would come alone with her and so we gained two very experienced ringers.  They were both keen walkers and traveled the world walking and hiking up mountain ranges which would make great stories to listen too in the pub after ringing.  

Ted sadly passed away a couple of years ago.  I quite often used to see Ruth from my office window walking into Stafford Town Centre having got off the bus at The Green. My Mother and Father occasionally bumped into her up the Town, and she would always stop and have a chat with them. 

Ted rang in the first Peal on the 6 bells at Haughton, and also rang in my first peal at Gnosall.  I rang many quarters with both Ted and Ruth and have very fond memories of them both.

Keith Brooks has also written a few lines about Ted and Ruth's Ringing and has supplied the photograph below of him having  a meal with Ruth.

Ruth and Ted attended the ringing at Brewood regularly when I was Ringing Master there from 1996-2007. They came on our outings with me in my car, they both rang in one peal with me at Brewood and also rang in about 15 quarters at Brewood as well as several quarters I called in other towers. They supported Bill at Lapley regularly as well and Roy Mowforth at Penkridge.

Very nice people!!

Haughton's 75th VE Day Celebrations

Back in December, I did a list of forthcoming Bell Ringing events and the furthest event in the future was VE day ringing.  Although no specific ringing had been organised the date had been firmly entered into our diaries.  We would have probably rung a quarter peal as we often do to mark such an occasion or maybe just some general ringing or maybe both.  Little did we know and certainly no one could have imagined we would all be in 'Lockdown' and any celebration would need to be done with social distancing in mind  (had anyone ever hear of social distancing before?).

So with no Bell Ringing to report on let's share our own celebrations.  If have any pictures or video's that you would like me to put on the site please send them to:

 Here's our street's celebrations from Stafford

Our neighbour Myles English played the Last Post

A video taken by Andy Funnell of the 75th VE Celebrations with his drone.

Photographs from The Moathouse Haughton - Taken by Suzanne and Les Potts

Photographs of Ash Drive - Taken by Mervyn Lock

 

Please do keep your photos coming and I will keep adding them

Ringing for Doreen and Mark

Firstly Thank You to you all for your support while I was ringing for Doreen and Mark, who have both sadly passed away recently from Covid-19.  I have recorded the performances if you wish to hear them again or if you've missed them.

Doreen, (Mrs. Wheetcroft) would have been one of the first people I met after moving to the village, aged 3 in 1978 as she had been one of the playgroup leaders, which in those days was held in the Village Hall.

I've probably known Mark and the Elton family for as long, as my mother had worked in the village shop, and then later I worked in the shop while Charlie Pogue had owned it.  The Elton's would often pop in for their supplies and have a chat.  Later I taught Mark how to ring and he would ring for Sunday Service if he wasn't on Organ duty.

To adhere to the current government restrictions I used my daily exercise allowance and cycled to the church, locked the door so I could ring in isolation.  Wearing gloves I went up the tower and tied the bells, this enable me to set the bells without actually sounding them, so the correct number of rings would be heard for both Doreen and Mark.

The 2nd having been tied and muffled, for Doreen.

The 6th having been tied and muffled, for Mark.

Ringing in memory of Doreen Wheatcroft - 7th May 2020 - 80 half-muffled changes rung on the 2nd.

This performance has also been registered on our National Bell Board - Click here to view


Ringing in memory of Mark Elton - 7th May 2020 - 59 half-muffled changes rung on the Tenor (6th).

This performance has also been registered on our National Bell Board - Click here to view

Usually, we would ring all 6 bells and would have rung a quarter of 1260 changes, this is not possible as it requires 6 ringers to ring in close proximity, and quite rightly is not permitted at present. When the lockdown has ended and the threat of the virus has passed we will ring something as a team in tribute to them both.

After ringing, I decided to hang the Union Jack, as it needed flying for the 75th anniversary VE Day celebrations taking place the following day.  The whole village including Julie Elton had decorated their houses with Union Jacks and St.George's flags. While pulling the flag up I remembered Mark with the help of Fred Price had repaired the flag pole, in the late nineties while being Church Wardens.  The gold weight containing the pulley at the top of the pole had come loose, they lifted the pole down and repaired it. It has been secure and fit for flying flags ever since. 

The Union Jack set to fly.


















While there at the top of the tower, I looked around at the view, it was a gorgeous evening with the Spring Sun setting in the west over Gnosall, hardly a sound except for the singing of birds settling down to roost for the night, there was something very tranquil about it amongst all sadness and grief.

I've video the views, to share with the evening sunset with you. Starting from facing North and turning around clockwise to the east, south then west.

May both Dorren and Mark Rest in Peace.