1. education
2. school

St Mary Bourne & Woodcott
Hill &Valley
Parish Magazine for Hurstbourne Priors, Longparish and St Mary Bourne & Woodcott
20114
October 20
Coffee at The George
All ages are welcome, from all the villages,
to a social coffee morning on Tuesday 14th
October at 10.30am in The George Inn, St
Mary Bourne - £2.50 for coffee and biscuits. If you need
a lift, contact Win Coventry ℡ 01264 738199 for St Mary
Bourne, and Marion Scull ℡ 01264 738306 for Stoke.
2nd
Christopher BEALE - 10 on the
Amelie BOLAM - 9 on the 2nd
Ben EDMUNDS - 5 on the 5th
Harvey ADAMS - 10 on the 8th
Estelle CLIFFORD - 10 on the 13th
Finlay ROBINSON - 10 on the 10th
Scarlett HIRST - 8 on the 20th
Charles BOLAM - 8 on the 24th
Austin HUNT - 7 on the 25th
Nathan HUNT - 7 on the 25th
St Mary Bourne School
gains prestigious international award
Our village school has recently been accredited with
the British Council’s International School Award (ISA) for
its outstanding work in achieving educational links with
schools overseas in Germany and Uganda and for
introducing activities and projects with an international
theme into the curriculum.
On receiving the award, Jonathan Nelson, Head
Teacher, said: “This is an incredible achievement of
which our whole school community can be justly proud.
Very few primary schools hold the full international
school’s award and we are very fortunate to have an
award coordinator in Mrs Robinson… All of the activities
have enriched our curriculum enormously this year and
we have had great fun with them”.
On awarding the ISA status to St Mary Bourne School,
the British Council Award Assessor commented: “The
activities you have delivered fit very well into the fabric
of the curriculum and this is what the ISA at your level
requires. Your school is an excellent example of how to
guide your international work through a clearly planned,
directed and delivered set of activities across a logical
cross-curricular platform… Once again, congratulations
on the work you have done so far and best wishes for
your continued success in the future. Well done”.
St Mary Bourne Primary School
We are holding our Open Day for
Year R parents September 2015 on
Thursday 9th October 2014
9.30 to 10.30am and 1.30 to 2.30pm.
If you have a child who will be
starting reception in September 2015,
please come along to meet the children and staff and
have a tour of the school.
Contact the School on ℡ 01264 738336 to book a place.
Our next Lunch is on Wednesday
15th October, 12.30pm at St Mary
Bourne Village Centre. All are
welcome, no need to book, and £2.50
is still the suggested donation. If you need a lift, please
contact Marion Scull on ℡ 01264 738306 by noon on the
Tuesday.
Chris Smith
Women's Fellowship
Our next meeting will be at The Cottage on Thursday
2nd October at 2.30pm. Everyone is welcome. Title of
discussion/talk to be decided!
Eve Lind-Smith ℡ 01264 738681
HARVEST FESTIVAL
At St Peter’s Church on Sunday 19th
October at 10.30 - Come to the
Harvest Festival, bring something for
the Food Bank (packets or tins) and
enjoy Fair Trade Coffee and cake after
the service. Children can decorate their own
biscuits. Everyone is WELCOME !
Fancy trying your hand at a new skill? Why not try
needle felting and raising money for the British
Legion Poppy Appeal at the same time. On
the mornings of Friday October 10th and
Thursday October 23rd I will be holding
needle felting classes, to make your own poppy, from
10am to 12 noon. This is on a donation basis and will
include refreshments.
For more information and to book a place please contact
Rebecca Anning on ℡ 01264 738833. No previous
experience necessary and help will be freely given!
St Mary Bourne and District Neighbourcare
Annual General Meeting to be held at The Cottage
at 8pm on Tuesday 28th October 2014
If you are interested in what the group aims to do,
have any suggestions or would like to volunteer, do
please come and join us.
Being a driver involves taking people for appointments
to the hospital, surgery or dentist. Petrol money paid for
mileage. Sadly some of our most active drivers are now
no longer able to help.
We are also looking for a new coordinator. This
involves receiving requests from clients and then
contacting and making the arrangements with one of the
drivers on our list.
You may be called upon on average once a month
depending on number of drivers we have.
For further information please contact either Eve LindSmith on ℡ 01264 738681 or Lorraine Riley on ℡ 01264
738592.
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St Mary Bourne & Woodcott
Hill &Valley
Parish Magazine for Hurstbourne Priors, Longparish and St Mary Bourne & Woodcott
‘The Film’ at St Mary Bourne Village Centre
Jersey
Boys
(15) - 130 mins
From director Clint Eastwood comes the big-screen
version of the Tony Award-winning musical Jersey
Boys. The film tells the story of four young men from
the wrong side of the tracks in New Jersey who came
together to form the iconic rock group The Four Seasons.
The story of their trials and triumphs are accompanied by
the songs that influenced a generation.
th
Tuesday 14
October - 7.30pm
20114
October 20
News from the
St Mary Bourne Shop & Post Office
We now have free range, locally-produced lamb and
pork delivered weekly by Oaktrack Holdings in
Hatherden, and at the end of the month they will be
adding Irish Moiled beef to their range so you can be
assured of quality meat at affordable prices. We also
have a new range of homemade pies, scotch eggs,
pates, rillettes and prepared meals and will have a
different variety every week.
If you have any surplus fruit or vegetables to
donate to the shop, it would be most welcome.
Be a winner! National Lottery sales from this shop
have helped 460 projects in the area this year. It is
great that a percentage goes towards local good
causes. Please get your lottery and scratch cards here.
Best wishes from everyone at the Shop
Joel Hope-Bell and his team of helpers clearing the
section of the Bourne Rivulet that runs through his land
(Bourne Court Land) below Derry Down bridge. The work
was completed over the weekend of 6th/7th September.
Hall and Licensed Bar open from 7pm
Tickets £5 in advance or £6 at the door
℡ 01264 738 164 or smbvillagecentre@btinternet.com
• 11 November Belle
Alzheimer’s Research UK
at The George Inn St Mary Bourne - SP11 6BG
Wednesday 8th October - 7.30 pm
Entry £3 per person - teams of max 6 people
Raffle, Sale of home made Fayre, Produce, Bring & Buy
Quiz prizes donations welcome - It's always a fun
evening, so please come along and bring your friends.
Quiz set by Alzheimer's Research UK
Last year we raised an amazing £500 which funded
25 hours research into this dreadful disease.
So we really can make a difference!
For further details contact Rosie Shepperd ℡ 01264 738999
Friends of St Mary
Bourne School
Christmas Fair
Friday 28th November
St Mary Bourne Village Centre
11am to 5.30pm
Quality Gift Stalls to suit all
wallets. Café - serving
homemade soups, paninis,
jacket potatoes & cakes.
Kids’ Festive Fun - Fun games &
activities for the kids
3.45 to 5.30pm
Photo: Trevor Cousins
Some quotations:
•
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The only reason that they say, 'Women and children
first', is to test the strength of the lifeboats.
~Jean Kerr
When a man opens a car door for his wife, it's either
a new car or a new wife.
~ Prince Philip
A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no
match for me at kickboxing.
~ Emo Philips.
Wood burns faster when you have to cut and chop it
yourself.
~ Harrison Ford
The best cure for sea sickness is to sit under a tree.
~ Spike Milligan
And finally...
Anyone who says that an onion is the only vegetable that
can make you cry has obviously never been hit in the
face with an organic turnip.
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St Mary Bourne & Woodcott
Hill &Valley
Parish Magazine for Hurstbourne Priors, Longparish and St Mary Bourne & Woodcott
A Lighter Touch
A Plea for the Old Varieties
at Harvest Time
Collecting your own seeds for the
garden is satisfying and saves money whilst ensuring you
get the crop you expected, as long as you avoid modern
F1 hybrid seeds. Sadly many modern vegetable and
flower seeds are varieties bred to provide the
characteristics needed for machine harvesting and
supermarket packaging. Most F1 hybrids are pollinated
by chemical spraying these days and they will not breed
true in our gardens. Originally hybrids were carefully
chosen to improve flavour and vigour and pollinated by
hand for the grower. This made them expensive, but
often worth the money. These days, seed packet prices
have stayed up in spite of the fact that they are cheaper
to produce and we are buying a few seeds bred for the
food industry where often flavour and adaptability have
been lost in the demand for cheap food. Flowering plants
are getting bigger and brighter but losing their scent.
Have a careful look at the market speak on packages
“good long shanks” (specially bred to fit boxes), “leafless
peas” (so that machines can harvest the crop easily),
“good for freezing” (may mean that they will all ripen at
once for the industrial grower), “uniform fruit” (those
boxes again).
Why not seek out good
heirloom and openpollinated seed varieties
so that all the effort in
growing your own is not
wasted? These may not
be so impressive to look
at, but they should go on
producing for longer and withstand the vagaries of our
climate without chemicals. To save seed, choose the
healthiest plants, let them ripen fully on the plant, then
dry well in a sunny place without artificial heat, rub off
the seed cases and store labelled in an airtight container.
For a very detailed instruction leaflet look at
www.realseeds.co.uk/seedsavinginfo.html and come to
the Hampshire Organic Gardening Groups seed swop
stall at Potato Day around the end of January in
Whitchurch.
St Mary Bourne Goes To War
Have You Signed Up Yet?
The blog https://stmarybournegoestowar.net first went
live on 28 June 2014 (the centenary of the Sarajevo
assassination - the catalyst for World War I). Since then
the History Group has posted a weekly account of the
effects of the war on our rural community, compiled
through research at the Hampshire Records Office,
family memories and local archives. It has been
described as a cross between Downton Abbey and The
Archers! But this blog is about real lives in a real place
(our parish). Perhaps some of the people once lived in
your house? They would have walked/driven along the
same roads. Looked at the same fields. Had the same
worries about their families and what the future would
hold…
20114
October 20
Our blog has followers all over the world with just over
2000 followers in the UK. Are you one of them? Please
join up and add your comments to our story.
“Sidney Gunnell, at the age
of 26, had become an orphan.
His father had died in 1910
and his mother in 1912. As
one of ten children of Thomas
Gunnell and Mary Jane
Goodyear, Sidney was of
course not alone in the world.
However, most of his siblings
had gone into service, and
most were in London. Annie
and Agnes were living at
Wakeswood, in service to
Henry Longfellow Cooper and
his wife. George and his wife
were in Longparish. There
were only three of them left at
4 Homefield, and he was the
man of the house. His sister
Jane was nineteen, and Constance May was seventeen.
He had joined the army in preference to going into
service, and had been able to send money home over
the years to help support the family. But now he was
sitting in the army depot in Winchester, waiting for the
call to go to France, and he did not share the gung-ho
exuberance of some of his comrades, which was
beginning to get on his nerves. He had put Jane down as
his next of kin, as indeed she was, but he hoped to
goodness that he would survive the war to look after his
sisters.
And, still aged only 28, Sidney was not against the idea
of living to a ripe old age himself...”
Homefield - photo taken early 1900s.
The Gunnells lived at No 4, on left just out of picture.
WHAT PASSING BELLS FOR THESE ?
A commemoration of the First World War in
readings and music
Saturday 18th October 7.30pm
St Mary Bourne Village Centre
Tickets £3 from Swee Sutcliffe on
℡ 01264 738288
Licenced Bar
For details please contact Tony Styles ℡ 01264
738403 tonystyles@stonytyles.demon.co.uk
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St Mary Bourne & Woodcott
Hill &Valley
Parish Magazine for Hurstbourne Priors, Longparish and St Mary Bourne & Woodcott
Summary Report - Parish Council Meeting Tuesday 9th September 2014
Five members of the parish council and the clerk
attended the meeting.
Affordable Housing - Bells Field Update: The parish
council had been informed by the Rural Housing Enabler
that Chris Buchan-Hepburn of Hyde Housing was off sick
and that Fowler architects were currently putting together
the required information to submit a planning application.
Parking in School Lane / Batsford - Concerns had
been raised by a resident about inconsiderate parking in
School Lane at the beginning and end of the school day
and for evening functions. The clerk would chase
Sovereign Housing for a response to the council’s
request to turn the derelict land opposite Batsford into
temporary set-down/pick-up parking. Cllr Jeffery
observed that there were similar difficulties with
obstructive parking on Gangbridge Lane. The landowner
of the hedge on the right hand side would be asked to
trim it back to assist visibility.
Community Speedwatch - Update: Details of the
procedure were explained. Volunteers were still needed
and the authorization process had been speeded up.
Hurstbourne Tarrant had borrowed the speed indication
device (SID) for a trial period during the summer. The
council discussed hire charges if both Hurstbourne
Tarrant and Whitchurch decided to hire StMB’s SID in
future, rather than buying their own.
Lengthsman - The clerk, as coordinator for the North
West Hants Cluster, informed the council that the
scheme would not currently be expanded to include other
parishes. A parish councillor will be appointed to
represent SMB’s interests when the date for renewal of
contracts/tendering for the next 4 years is known. £290
remains from the original £1,000 grant for SMB works
and the clerk was instructed that grips and ditch
clearance should be attended to by the Lengthsman in
October. Vegetation outgrowth should be controlled by
landowners and Hampshire Highways.
Pavilion - Woodworm treatment, floor renewal and
kitchen refurbishment: Three suppliers / contractors and
their quotations were approved by the councillors present
and a local carpenter will assist with the necessary work.
Planning - Other parish councils’ planning matters: The
clerk had received a message from a HBP resident
concerned about possible traffic and sewage
consequences from an outline planning application for 26
market homes, 18 social rental homes and adaption of
existing building to two market homes at J A Hirst & Sons
Recycling Yard, Hurstbourne Station, Hurstbourne Priors,
RG28 7RT. The clerk had asked B&DBC to forward the
application pack to SMB PC so they could comment on it
if they wished to.
Footpaths - A resident had recently asked if gates
(especially the one across the Finkley Road) could be
‘sprung-shut’ as they are often left open. Also, if a
mechanism could be fitted that would prevent children
opening them easily. The clerk will contact Hampshire
Countryside Services about this and also mention at the
same time that some gates should be re-painted.
Flooding and Emergency Group Report from meeting
3 September 2014 - Dredging and clearing the river bed
had been discussed. Some scheduled cuts would be
done by the Environment Agency in October but this
would not remove responsibilities from Riparian owners.
20114
October 20
A plan for river drainage and funding will soon be agreed.
Clem Jones had supplied the latest ground water
measurements. Although levels remained high (1 Sept
2014), they were falling slowly. If the autumn and early
winter were dry, there should not be the problems
experienced in February/March 2014. If there was
subsequently heavy rain from January we should not
experience problems, as the ground water level would
have dropped by then.
Full parish council meeting minutes can be viewed at
www.stmarybourne-pc.gov.uk or at the Parish Council
Office. Next Parish Council Meeting:
Tuesday 7th October 2014, 19.30
Next Parish Council Planning Committee Meeting:
Tuesday 21st October 2014, 18.30
Summary Report of recent
Local Planning Authority Decisions
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Erection of a single storey side extension to include
rooflights at 11 Stevens Green (14/02021/HSE) Granted
Erection of agricultural barn (amended scheme to
planning approval BDB/76413 to amend footprint to
front elevation and insertion of openings with oak
mullions) at The Black Barn, Stoke Road
(14/01848/FUL) - Granted
Erection of first floor extension over garage. Gable end
to be glazed with french doors. Installation of railings
within gable elevation with timber gantry to access
garden. Erection of single storey rear and front
extensions. Construction of pitched roofs to existing
dormer windows at Romans, Upper Link
(14/01332/HSE) - Granted
Erection of dwelling to replace a redundant agricultural
building and change of use of agricultural building to
form residential store at Oak Tree Farm, Upper Wyke
(14/01148/FUL) - Granted
Erection of garage building to be used as a temporary
dwelling whilst associated house is demolished and
replacement dwelling erected at The Croft, Stoke
Road (14/00672/FUL) - Granted
Newly registered
Planning Applications
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Erection of a single storey side extension at Mundays,
High Street (14/02574&5/LBC)
Change of use from light industrial to residential
dwelling including provision of first floor, installation of
roof lights and creation of balcony to rear at Pioneer
House, Church Street (14/02566/FUL)
Erection of a detached garage with ancillary living
accommodation following demolition of an ancillary
outbuilding at Middle Wyke Farm House
(14/02497/HSE)
Planning Committee meeting reports can be viewed at
www.stmarybourne-pc.gov.uk
Details of all Planning Applications for the Parish
can be accessed on the B&DBC website:
www.basingstoke.gov.uk/planning or by contacting
the Parish Council Clerk ℡ 01264 738 039
Mobile Library
St Mary Bourne Village Shop - 10.45 to 11.15am
Stoke Gate - 11.30am to 12.00 noon
Tuesday 14th October 2014
11th November 9th December
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St Mary Bourne & Woodcott
Hill &Valley
Parish Magazine for Hurstbourne Priors, Longparish and St Mary Bourne & Woodcott
World Ironman Challenge
in honour and memory of Rosie
On the 14th of September I travelled to Tenby in Wales
to take on the notoriously tough Ironman Wales - an
endurance triathlon consisting of a 2.4 mile swim, 112
mile bike course, and finishing with a 26.2 mile
marathon. All this is to be completed in under 17 hours.
This was my third Ironman and the second time I was
taking on Wales, considered one of the hardest Ironman
events in the world due to its testing bike and run
course.
For me, going back to Tenby on 14th September was
an emotional experience. Last year I achieved my goal of
becoming an Ironman in Wales. However, my euphoria
upon crossing the line turned to devastation when I
discovered my 19 year old niece and best friend, Rosie,
had tragically passed away whilst in Tenby supporting
me. It made my experience the best and worst day of
my life. Throughout the last year I have been on a
mission to qualify for the Ironman World Championships
in Kona, Hawaii, in Rosie's memory. It was a way to
focus myself and honour Rosie the only way I knew how,
as well as to raise money and awareness for SUDEP
(Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy).
I had an emotional race day as expected but I battled
with the waves during the swim, fought the
Pembrokeshire hills on the bike and despite being
physically ill (more
than once) managed
to complete the run.
I crossed the line in
13 hours 47 minutes
and soon discovered
I had come third in
my age group. The
following day I was
awarded my third
place trophy and
shortly after that I
discovered I had
qualified for Kona.
With only 50 slots
out of 2000 athletes this was a huge feat.
Kona was the location for the first Ironman challenge
in 1978 which began with a debate as to who was the
toughest: the swimmer, the cyclist or the runner? It has
since become the pinnacle of triathlons attracting the
best Ironmen in the world who all fight it out to be the
Ironman World Champion. To be amongst this elite
group of athletes is an honour and it is an absolute
dream to get there. I have come such a long way. I was
not a natural athlete as a child but it proves that
anything is possible with determination, motivation and
the inspiration to push yourself. I thank Rosie for helping
me on this journey and I hope she is looking down with
pride - we did it - my journey continues in Hawaii next
year.
Holly Cradduck
If you are interested in following my journey to Kona my blog is www.holliesroadtoironman.blogspot.co.uk
and if you are kind enough to donate to SUDEP here is
my charity page - www.justgiving.com/Hollie4Kona .
20114
October 20
Vice Presidents Match
Sunday 24th August
This year the annual VP Cricket match
took place in perfect weather. Following a
number of injuries within the VP Team last
year, it was decided to change the format
for 2014 and play a 20/20 match between the SMB Colts
XI and a Coaches’ Select XI.
Photos: Chrissie Henderson
The Colts decided to bat first and it quickly became
apparent that the juniors have improved dramatically
since last year. Excellent technique and ball striking from
all the team soon got them to a very good score of 149,
with Ben White, Jamie King, Ryan Berry, Nat Wood and
Jacob Wilson-Culley all performing especially well.
The Select team had to chase at over 7 runs per over,
and they were soon in trouble when their Saturday team
vice-captain Chris Randall was bowled by Brenan Bullpit
with the score on only 8. Accurate bowling continued
from Callum Randall and Andrew Exelby, and then
George Bullpit and Ryan Berry took further wickets
reducing the select XI to 66-3. Alistair Burahmeh and
Mac Sutcliffe showed that practice in the Nets on
Tuesdays was working as the juniors made the adults
work hard for their runs, with excellent fielding and good
work from wicketkeeper Jamie King. Nat Wood and Ben
White showed why both are now regularly playing for the
senior teams, but eventually the power of Saturday team
regulars Martin Clay and Tristram Comber proved too
much as the Select XI got to their target of 150 with just
8 balls to go.
This was an excellent game of cricket, played in a
great spirit. All the colts should be proud of their efforts.
Presentations were made after the game by coaches
Steve Wood and Rob King as follows.
Junior Batsman
Ben White
Junior Bowler
Nat Wood
Junior Fielder
Ryan Berry
The Vice Presidents’
Cup was presented by
Alan Marsden (Chairman
SMB VP Cricket) to Rob
King (Select XI Capt). Following the
presentations all
attending VPs and
players enjoyed an
excellent BBQ lunch,
generously supplied by Ken White. Thanks to our
excellent Umpire Derek Dyer, to Ken White and to all the
Vice Presidents for their continued support of St Mary
Bourne Cricket Club. For further information on SMB
Junior Cricket please contact: Colts - Rob King ℡ 01264
738086 or Steve Wood ℡ 01264 738310 & Under 13 Martin Hunt ℡ 01264 738352.
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St Mary Bourne & Woodcott
Hill &Valley
Parish Magazine for Hurstbourne Priors, Longparish and St Mary Bourne & Woodcott
Obituary
John Watts Dixon
27 September 1951 – 12 August 2014
Hundreds of lifelong friends, family members,
neighbours and former colleagues gathered on Friday
12th September to fill St Peter’s Church and its
surroundings to celebrate the life of John Dixon – a much
loved and respected man.
John Watts Dixon was
born on the Wirral in
Merseyside in 1951. He
was the eldest of the
three sons of David and
Carol Dixon (née
Watts). His father’s
family were mill owners
in Lancashire and his
mother’s family owned
vast china clay mines in
Devon – two great
Victorian manufacturing
and industrial dynasties.
Johnnie was proud of his family connections, but in
particular of the fact that they had subscribed to the
ethos of looking after those who were not as fortunate
as themselves. He continued in that tradition, and a
love of family and sense of duty always remained
important to him.
Following a successful school career at Harrow and a
Law degree at Oxford, where he made many lifelong
friends, he joined the Middle Temple as a barrister.
From 1980 until 2004 when he was appointed as a
Circuit Judge on the Western Circuit, he also worked as a
night lawyer/libel reader on the Daily Mail & Mail on
Sunday.
As a Circuit Judge, Johnnie presided over County Courts
in Wiltshire, Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Many tributes have been paid to him by fellow judges,
lawyers and national journalists from his working life
where he was much respected and held in great
affection.
He married Katie, whom he had met at Oxford, in 1980.
In 1987 they came to live in St Mary Bourne with their
two young daughters, Annabel and Elizabeth. At the
time they were looking for a convenient base for
Johnnie’s work as a barrister on the Western Circuit with
fairly easy connections to his legal Chambers in Oxford
and London, and also to his family home in Devon.
Fortunately, they fell in love with the Bourne Valley at
first sight and, having bought Barford House in St Mary
Bourne, they put down strong roots in the community.
20114
October 20
Their daughter Sarah was born in 1988, followed by
twins Miranda & Oliver in 1992. He was devoted to his
family who brought him much happiness, love and
support. He also enjoyed being outside in the fresh air,
working in his garden in all weathers, walking his dog in
the countryside and actively supporting the Juniper
Shoot.
Despite his very demanding professional commitments
and the pressures of family life, Johnnie always made
time for anyone in the locality who needed his help or
advice. This might range from signing a last-minute
passport application late at night to listening to anyone
who was in any kind of trouble, and then pointing them
in the appropriate direction to get help. He had a
genuine interest in people and treated everyone the
same – with kindness, courtesy and respect. He enjoyed
the quirkiness of human life and relished a party – both
as a host and as a guest. Whenever asked to give a
speech or vote of thanks at a special occasion, his wit,
sense of timing and wickedly accurate assessment of the
event would always generate laughter. He was often
mischievous, but never unkind.
Johnnie loved St Mary Bourne and its wider community
and threw himself heart and soul into its affairs. He was
a regular churchgoer and lesson reader, a member of
the PCC and a sidesman at St Peter’s. He was a Trustee
and Chairman of the Village Centre Committee and took
an active interest in its day-to-day business and future
planning. On a lighter side, he was a stalwart of Priors
Players and his acting talents in both tragic and comic
roles were often the highlight of any production. One of
his last performances was on the Recreation Ground on
Midsummer’s Eve this year, when he brought tears of
laughter from the audience at his mimicry as he read
from his School Prize book of “Stories from
Shakespeare”.
In 2002, he took the major role of Sir Thomas More in
Priors Players’ production of “A Man For All Seasons”.
This role seemed to embody John’s own characteristics
of compassion, integrity, intelligence, courage, faith and
humour. These qualities in particular stood out during
his final two years of illness when he bore treatment
and pain with fortitude and without complaint, and
looked forward to the interest and pleasure that each
day might bring.
Johnnie was a devoted family man, a man of justice, a
man of laughter, a man with a kindly tongue and pen, a
man of courage and a very loyal friend. Much loved,
much mourned and remembered with much gratitude.
A man for all seasons.
Katie, Annabel, Lizzie, Sarah, Miranda and Oliver would like
to express their heartfelt thanks for all the support the
family has been given during Johnnie's illness and over the
past couple of months.
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