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July 2022 July 2022

THANK YOU! Jenny Beedle and her team and the social club supported by running the bar at
excellent prices! The hall looked great and many made the effort to dress up for
the evening.

rd
A very big thank you to all who so Saturday 3 started “early” for some with an army of volunteers arriving at the
very kindly contributed towards my village hall to start making the mountain of sandwiches. We were after all
garden tokens when I left my post catering for 200!, at just shy of 50% of the parish what an amazing turn out. Cakes
as churchwarden of St Laurence’s. and Scones had been made and donated by many in the Parish. We closed the
My 7 years in the role have been road at 11.00am and the job to erect the stage and get the tables laid out
hard work with lots of ups and started. The tables stretched nearly 200 feet from the edge of the social club
downs, perhaps the hardest of nearly to the pathway to the Water meadows.
which was locking the church Mid morning we saw finely dressed pets parade the ring – much chaos ensued
during the first Covid 19 lock down. and Leonora took life in hands as she photographed owners and pets.
I thought about all the things that The party started at 2.00pm the street filled with chatter and laughter. The
had happened during the 800 years sandwiches were served, and we sat to enjoy the afternoon tea.
St Laurence’s has been there,
providing a place of peace and sanctuary throughout that time. It is wonderful After tea we moved the tables into the ring and the newly formed “Throopettes”
to see it alive and part of the community again. performed a number of tunes from the last 70 years with words provided so we
could join in with the singing. Huge thanks to the musicians who came together
During my time as churchwarden, I have been blessed with the help and support and practiced the week before having not previously played together. The social
of so many parishioners, whether church attenders or not. There have been club again providing the bar, and as the beer was consumed the chatter
several changes of clergy but all have been a pleasure to work with. continued.
Mike Menzies has taken over now and I know will be an excellent churchwarden. Children had dressed up, games were played, Zimmer frames raced around the
Once again, thank you all. ring.

Elizabeth Whatley The BBQ was lit at 7.00 and sausages and burgers “slowly” cooked but eventually
everyone had been fed. Dancing in the road ensued and we were undeterred
when finally, the weather gave in and dramatic lightning lit our dance floor.

BISHOP’S LETTER Unfortunately, on Sunday the weather decided it could hold off no longer but
with the Marquee provided by Geoff we were undeterred. After a short service of
thanksgiving, some great hymn singing accompanied by Vivi on the Organ we
partook in our picnics – truly British and as we were reminded it poured with rain
What is really important? on the day of the Coronation.

This article comes to you in July All in all, a fantastic weekend. It could not have been possible without the many
(2022). I first learnt that I was on the people who got involved to help. A truly community effort!
long-list for Bishop of Salisbury in July
2021. It has been a long year for me; In the words of one parishioner.
a long year for all of us as so much
has changed as we have emerged “All in all, I think Briantspuddle can be considered to have done Her Majesty
out of the pandemic and into an proud!”
economic crisis, with leadership and Ali Chorley - just one of many involved in organising a great weekend!.
integrity in question and sadly, war in
Europe. See the centre pages for a full colour souvenir of the fabulous celebrations

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