The Parish Magazine
May '26
BERWICK ST JAMES
Goodbye to Les and Pam Bryant who have lived in Berwick for 47 years. Goodbye to Dominic and Alice Ridley and George, Wilfred and Poppy who are only moving down the road, so we hope to see them lots of times. We will miss all of you, and hope you have a great time in your new homes.
Happy 90th Birthday to Veronica Sumner. We hope you had a great day.
Welcome to Dawn Simmonds and Duncan Barnes, we hope you enjoy living in Berwick.
Get Well Soon to Gerry Norris and everyone who is feeling under the weather.
CHURCH NEWS
Many thanks to everyone who helped decorate the church with beautiful flowers for Easter. As ever, the church looked stunning. Thank you so much.
Looking to May, we have three services during the month. In addition to our regular Holy Communion service at 9.30am on the first Sunday, which is the 3rd May, and then a Mattins service at 11.00am on the third Sunday, which is the 17th May, there is a Benefice Holy Communion Service (a service for all nine churches in the Benefice) on Sunday 31st May at 10.30am.
Everyone is welcome.
TEA and CAKE and CHAT
The next Tea and Chats will be on Tuesdays May 5th and 19th in the Reading Room, from 2.30 – 4pm. Everyone, from all villages, very much welcome. We had a great bunch on April 7th – it was great to see men and women chatting and eating Easter Cakes and Viennese Fancies.
READING ROOM AGM: Wednesday 13th May
The Reading Room is a charity, run by a committee of both trustees and members, on behalf of the village. We have an Annual General Meeting every year to which everyone is very much welcome. Come along and find out what we do! The AGM is being held in the Reading Room on Wednesday 13th May at 6pm. There will be wine!
MNDA FUNDRAISER
Join us on 16th May, 1 -4pm for a fun Pottery Studio Open Afternoon in support of MNDA (Motor Neurone Disease Association) with live pottery workshop demos. Enjoy beautiful handcrafted ceramics for sale, a raffle, plant stall, homemade cakes and refreshments – including tea, coffee, prosecco and cider. Bring your friends and family, we would love to see you and would really appreciate your support. Find us at Stonehenge Pottery, Church Street, Winterbourne Stoke SP3 4SW. Parking available at the Bell inn, a 2 min walk away.
ART EXHIBITION
“The Black and White Pair - Narratives from the middle of the street”
When Dave and I met, we were delighted to find out that we were both artists. A like minded neighbour is a rare gem to be cultivated and so after a few glasses of Christmas cheer we decided the only course of action was to have an exhibition together. The place? Berwick St James of course, our current centre of the Universe.
Our desire is to share a little of what we do with the fabulous communities around us. Bringing people together to mingle and muse over colour, textures and forms is what art does best.
Please come to our opening evening, which will also help to raise money for the village.
Saturday 23rd May 2026 5-8pm
Berwick St James Reading Room - opposite The Boot Inn
£5 entry will give you a glass of wine and some nibblies to wander around with.
We look forward to seeing you. Caroline Ainsworth
VILLAGE MEETING AGM - Thursday 28 May.
Berwick St James Village Meeting AGM will take place on Thursday 28 May at 7pm at the Reading Room. Agenda items will be forwarded the week before. Everyone is very welcome.
HIGH-ENERGY FOOT-TAPPING CEILIDH BARN DANCE FOR ALL AGES - SATURDAY 8TH AUGUST - TICKETS NOW ON SALE
Tickets are now available online so it’s time to secure your place, a small per-ticket booking fee will apply. Information about how to purchase your tickets and further event details, please visit our Berwick St James website under the header “Events”. This digital ticketing option offers a very user-friendly, efficient and secure ticket-purchasing platform, which allows 24/7 access and instant confirmation. Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy a whirlwind of fun with live bands “Ribble” a rowdy-stompy folk duo and “Monkey See Monkey Do” a folkish English/Irish 4-piece group with a professional caller to guide your feet. This will be a truly authentic barn dance experience. Christian Lange and Carolyn MacDougall
PLANT, PRODUCE and FLOWER table supporting CRUK
Hello villagers and our lovely neighbouring villages.
The table got off t a great start in April with a wonderful assortment of fruit and vegetable plants, things go quick so keep an eye out for home grown at its best.
The CEO and treasurer of CRUK are coming to the Forge Farm Shop on 29th April 1pm to collect our raised funds. I am looking forward to getting use of my greenhouses as my house is like Kew gardens at the moment lol
With your continued support this is going to be a great year.
Yours Aye Christine.
EASTER CHOCOLATE BINGO
Great times were had at the Easter Bingo on Thursday 9th – much laughter and noise, and even more chocolate and pizzas. 45 people came and it was a roaring success! We made a fabulous £300.05, and, more importantly had a great time. A great many thanks to James (the star of the show), Jo, Rosalyn and Elspeth for all their hard work which made it such a success. Also thanks to the Farm Shop for staying open especially and bringing up the Pizzas. Thanks also to those who donated chocolate (such a lot!), helped in many ways, and came along to make it such a fun evening.
BERWICK READING ROOM HIRE
We now have a dedicated email address for the hire of the Reading Room. If you would like to hire our wonderful little hall then please text or call Christine on 07927 371721 email [email protected]
WILDLIFE WATCH
The first sighting of 10 ducklings on the River Till above Asserton Lane was made on 31st March, and a duck with a dozen little fledglings led down to the river from a garden at Over the Hill on 1st April, last year the duck had been mobbed by a gang of Jackdaws and Magpies and driven off her nest and eggs all broken and scattered.