Udimore

Not put off by the earlier than usual timing, a large congregation (of all ages) assembled in St Mary’s last Sunday for our annual Harvest Festival. The church was as usual splendidly decorated: what a blaze of autumn colour we’ve had in our gardens in recent weeks! We duly gave thanks for our various farm and garden harvests, and also for the life of the highly eccentric Robert Hawker, vicar of the Cornish parish of Morwenstow, originator of harvest festivals as we know them today, and a great benefactor both of underpaid farmworkers and of “those in peril on the sea”.

If you’d like to go to the Harvest Supper in St Mary’s Community Hall this evening (Friday) but don’t have tickets, it would be well worth ringing Leonie Wheeler (01797 222009) in case she’s had any tickets returned. A ticket costs a very modest £7, even less than I stated last week.

This Sunday the services in St Mary’s Church are the Holy Communion at 8am and the Family Service for All at 11.15am (followed by refreshments).

At 7.30pm this Monday (October 14) The Friends of St George’s Brede have arranged for Colin Page to give one of his excellent slide shows in the church. His title is “The Sea Shore”, certain to be superbly illustrated by his brilliant photos. To reserve a ticket (£8, to include a buffet supper) please ring Marion Firman (01424 751165).

I’d like to remind you of three important forthcoming events, two next weekend and one the weekend after.

1) Saturday October 19, 10am - noon in the Hall: Giant Jumble Sale, entry £1 to include coffee (donations of quality clothes, books, bric-a-brac and household items for sale either to be taken to the Hall 2-4pm the previous day, or, for collection from your home, please ring 01424 882567 or 882348).

2) Sunday October 20, 3 - 5pm in the Hall: Tea Party, to raise funds for the five missionary charities supported by the Overseas Group, free entry, donations gratefully received. To simplify catering, if you’re thinking of coming please ring 0142488-3246, -2567, -3063 or -2487.

3) Saturday October 26, 3pm in the Hall, Tea Party arranged by the Friends of St Mary’s Church, preceded by a lively and entertaining talk, “Reflections on a Farming Life”, by Dickie Dengate. Tickets now on sale at £5, bookable in advance by ringing Geraldine Edwards (01424 883021).

It seems there are still plenty of scam merchants out there, doing their best to swindle us. Do continue to treat with extreme caution any email which offers you any sort of reward in return for your bank or credit card details. You may even receive an email, apparently from your bank, stating that “some of your recent transactions has been revoked”, and asking for all your personal details, including “memorable information”. Don’t touch it (even if the grammar is correct!) - banks never contact their customers by email in this way. For the cautionary advice offered in ”A Little Book of Big Scams” try sending an email to [email protected]