To view the photos for these events, click here.
2012 Jubilee Celebration
What a weekend! Our church was privileged to host the village Jubilee celebrations on June 2nd and 3rd. The interior of the church was breath taking with a red, white and blue theme for all the flowers and the display boards of the changing social culture through the decades, combined with photos of village life and residents. Many families came along in the afternoon for a fun filled Treasure Hunt, crown making competition, rounders and tug of war, accompanied by cream teas and a BBQ.
The day ended with a wonderful ’home grown’ concert – what a talented lot we have in Drinkstone! Then there was rousing community singing in a fantastic atmosphere.
Sunday rounded off the events perfectly with a Celebration Service, in which there was a light hearted look at the changes that have taken place through all six decades, concluding, as Prince Charles did, that the Queen was the unchanging presence through it all, and giving thanks for her reign.
2012 Newcomers’ Afternoon Tea
After the success of the 2011 Newcomers’ Tea, it was decided to do it again – largely because an astonishing 23 homes had changed hands in the year following. So it was that around 50 people gathered in All Saints on September 23rd, with representatives from the various village organisations armed with leaflets and invitations. It was a very sociable afternoon and good contacts were made.
2012 Hallowe’en Party
On October 31st a crowd of excited (and spookily dressed) children gathered in All Saints Church for a safe way of spending Hallowe’en. They enjoyed some suitably scary craft activities, carved their pumpkins and had a treasure hunt in the graveyard, all followed by refreshments.
2012 Remembrance Service
This service was, as ever, very well supported. Nearly one hundred people crowded into All Saints to pay their respects to the fallen of war. For a village of around 650 , that’s very special. The Norton Salvation Army Band provided all the music, including a very moving Reveille and Last Post from the Tower. Cora excelled herself with the floral tributes.
2012 Dedication of a new altar frontal
In the service on November 25th, a new Purple Altar Frontal was dedicated to Rebecca Wright, Chris and Sue’s daughter. Like the other new frontals, the flowing curves of green shades represent Drinkstone’s rural landscape, with blue beneath representing the River Blackbourne. Specific to Rebecca are included a white dove and long tailed stars, details from Christmas Cards painted by Rebecca for L’Arche and Mencap.
Rebecca, loved and remembered by many in Drinkstone, is buried in Drinkstone churchyard, and hidden under the folds of the frontal is a beautifully embroidered detail from her headstone.
2012 November 28th Christmas Coffee Morning
A fantastic, sociable morning at Green Farm, courtesy of the Ridsdill-Smiths. There was coffee, mince pies and lots of chat! Along with a produce stall, a groaning table of pre-loved items and loads of opportunities to win things – a hamper, Christmas wreath, Christmas cake and a fifteen prize raffle it all made for a very enjoyable morning and over £600 was raised for the fabric of All Saints.
2012 December 23rd Carol service
Once again, a packed church enjoyed our traditional Carol service, the main difference being that we had to do it without Ruth, our Vicar, who was unavoidably away. But all went well; we supplemented the organ with a larger than usual Music group (thanks, Dan!), the whole thing ably led by our churchwarden, Julie. The children told the Christmas story with a twist – from the point of view of our neighbour’s cat, who, it appears, had been locked in the church with a mouse…