Kingston News – November 2018

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Our Festival Week at St James’s went very well and in total raised over £1000 for Church funds. It started with a musical afternoon with bell ringing, organ and violin music and singing and also the bell tower was open. The views were much enjoyed by those that went up the tower as were the refreshments. Of great interest was the photographic display of Terry Hardy’s photographs of Kingston church and village; especially poignant this year were the war time photos. Thank you to all involved.

During the week, Peter and Hazel Hartle gave a talk on 30 years of Purbeck Ice cream and it was an eye opener to learn how much was involved in developing what is one of the great business successes in the area. It was enjoyed by those who attended as were the sample ice creams! Our thanks to them for giving us their time.

There was a concert by Harmony Rocks choir on Wednesday which was a lovely selection of music and very much appreciated by a good audience. Our thanks to the choir and their conductor.

The Flower, Craft and Music days were on Saturday and Sunday when, unfortunately, the weather was absolutely atrocious, so much so, that a pedestal arrangement in the porch blew over more than once! It was wonderful to see the Church so alive and buzzing with the crafts, music and the flower displays on the theme ‘The Water of Life’. All the parishes in the new Benefice of St Aldhelm contributed displays and it was great to have them all involved in what was a spectacular display. The music was lovely and the craft displays and demonstrations very interesting and it is amazing how many local, very talented people there are. We finished the event with a ‘Hymns and Pimms’ service which was well attended and very enjoyable. Thank you to everyone involved.

Judy and I would like to thank very sincerely everyone who helped with any of the events in whatever way – you are too numerous to mention you all by name. We greatly appreciated your help and support and it could not have taken place without you. Also we would like to thank our sponsors James Smiths, Albury and Hall and Foleys Garage. I would especially like to thank Judy Forgan for her ideas, enthusiasm and commitment to the project.

We have our Remembrance Day service at 10.45 on Sunday, 11 November and there will be an Advent Service on Sunday, 2 December at 6pm with mulled wine and mince pies to which everyone is invited. Both should be special occasions please come along if you can.

Doreen Farr & Judy Forgan

Kingston Festival

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Just a last minute reminder of the various events we have happening in the coming week at Kingston Church:

It starts with a Music event this Sunday afternoon (16th), featuring a fascinating history/photographic display by Terry Hardy, the Tower Bells, Organ Music, soloists, and refreshments. Midweek we have a talk with Purbeck Ice Cream on Tuesday at 2.30pm. Wednesday at 2pm Harmony Rocks will give a concert of well known songs, (no ticket needed just come if you can), then on Saturday and Sunday from 10am – 4pm each day, there will be Floral displays and local crafts people and the whole event will conclude with Hymns and Pimms Songs of Praise which starts at 3.15pm on Sunday 23rd September. Please join us when you can and feel free to invite family, friends and neighbours.

People can park in the designated car park just 100m beyond the Church on the left, or in the lane downhill to the right (by kind permission of Henry Scott).
Hoping we may see you soon,

Judy Forgan

Kingston Festival Week – 16 to 23 September 2018

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This year St James’ Church in the village of Kingston  is holding several events during the third week of September, aiming to  bring church and community together.

The week will start on Sunday 16 September with a Quarter Peal of the 10 bells, co-ordinated by Mike Pitman, our Tower Captain,  who will be joined by Bell ringers  from across the area. They will be starting at about 1.30. There will then be  a Music Afternoon from 2.30pm till 4.30pm  in the Church, where people can come and listen to Organ Music played by Roderick Raley while enjoying a relaxing cup of tea and afternoon refreshments.  There will also be an exhibition of photographs by Terry Hardy who lives in the village.  Hopefully we can also offer visits to the tower if weather permits during the afternoon.

On Tuesday 18 September  at 2.30pm we have Peter and Hazel Hartle of  Purbeck Ice Cream   speaking  about their first 30 years of Purbeck Ice Cream. They have been building up their business from their Kingston-based farm at Lower Scoles and  will give a talk about how the well-known brand  first began  and developed over the years. Please do reserve a seat for this event as we need an idea how many are coming  ( judyforgan@hotmail.co.uk )

On Wednesday 19 September  at 2.00pm Harmony Rocks,  a local choir of ladies, will bring a repertoire of popular  classics, under the direction of Annie Campbell.  Tea and cakes will be served during the interval.  Tickets are not essential but you may like to reserve a seat.

On Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 September our third Flowers, Crafts and Music Festival will take place  with arrangements around the theme ‘Water of Life’. The Church will be open for viewing and refreshments from 10am until 4pm on both Saturday and Sunday.  People from across the new Benefice of St Aldhelm have been involved in putting this together, with supporters helping from Kimmeridge, Corfe Castle and Church Knowle, as well as Langton and Worth Matravers. We are very grateful to all who are contributing towards what will be a very special week.

The Festival Week will close with an informal Songs of Praise Service ‘Hymns with Pimms’  from about 3.15pm.

Please come and support some or all of the events,  which help to bring the wider community and church together. There is no charge for admission but hopefully people will give a generous donation towards the Church Funds.

Thanks also to our sponsors Albury and Hall  Estate Agents from Swanage,  Foleys Garage at Harmans Cross and  J. Smith Funeral Directors in Swanage.

Judy Forgan and Doreen Farr

Concert News – August 2018

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World-renowned cellist, Natalie Clein, returns to home territory, namely St James Church, on the morning of Sunday, 2 September, bringing with her a new group of musician friends, to give the penultimate concert in this, her sixth Purbeck International Chamber Music Festival (PICMF). The concert will start at 11am with Taxi, a piece for solo bass and voice by contemporary French composer and double bassist Joelle Leandre, which features the Syrian oud player and singer, Ibrahim Keivo. It will be followed by Beethoven’s joyous Septet, one of his most popular and successful works written when he was still in his twenties.

The concert is one of no fewer than 11 events packed into four exciting days which makes this Festival the biggest yet. Beginning on Thursday, 30 August, at Lytchett Minister with a performance of Schubert’s great song cycle, Winterreise, the festival programme is wide-ranging in its appeal. You can take a ‘musical and historical journey’ to Aleppo at Smedmore House, which, appropriately enough, will again feature Ibrahim Keivo, or, at Durlston, enjoy a free concert especially designed for families as long as you are accompanied by children. English music from Dowland to Britten and Brian Elias, Mahler’s Songs of a Wayfarer, Mozart’s Quintet for Piano and Winds, Schubert’s ‘Trout’ Quintet and a world premiere by Brian Elias can all be found in a variety of churches and other venues all over the Isle of Purbeck. The festival comes to a climax on Sunday afternoon in Harmans Cross Village Hall with another concert aimed at families, a performance of that symphonic fairy tale for children, Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, the composer’s most frequently performed work. Details of all the concerts in the Festival can be found on the Festival website

Robin Stringer

Kingston News – August 2018

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It is with sadness that people of Kingston have lost one of their older residents, who was a stalwart of the village. Margaret Harris had recently celebrated her 99th birthday and sadly passed away in early July. For over 30 years she had lived in Kingston and always showed great integrity and wisdom and was such a well loved character. She will be greatly missed by friends and neighbours across the Benefice and especially by the PCC of St James’ Church as she had contributed in so many ways and for such a long time. Our condolences and thoughts are with the family at this time.

With the warm weather in full force, the Kingston Country Fair was very well supported – lots to see and do and the local Air Ambulance will benefit greatly from the proceeds. Thanks must go to the hardworking committee who took on organising such an event. Displays included vintage vehicles, sheep display, Double Act amateur dramatics, Dog show, music performances, birds of prey, and especially flights by the model aeroplane group who even managed to fly a Vulcan and Red Arrow simultaneously. Many other local attractions came together and people enjoyed a wide variety of local treats from hog roast and cream teas to Cider and candyfloss. The Church stalls took about £142 and we are very grateful to Steve, Alan and Anne Fry for having everyone there and making it all possible. On the preceding night, the Fab Beatles were very well received and got lots of people dancing and singing along to the old 60’s and 70’s hits.

There are a few weddings planned during August at Kingston and then early in September (2nd) Natalie Clein returns to St James’ Church.

Plans are progressing for the Festival events later in September, which will bring together Flowers, Crafts, Music and hopefully a few local talks which will enable people to come and enjoy the special surroundings of Kingston Church. We will start with Organ Music and a soloist on Sunday, 16 September, from 2.30pm. Watch this space for other events through the week, culminating with an informal service the following Sunday (23 August) in the afternoon. Have a good summer and stay safe, wherever you are spending it.

Doreen Farr & Judy Forgan

Kingston News – July 2018

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Kingston Festival in September will have Crafts, Music Flowers and more so please save the date (16 -23 Sept).

This summer we have had some young performers to delight us at Kingston, firstly the trio from Russia, who came in April and more recently at the PAW concert given by the English Cornett and Sackbutt Ensemble. We had the Benefice Service at St James’ Church in early June and that same afternoon had a lovely Strawberry Cream Tea at Scoles Manor, so kindly hosted by Belinda and Peter Bell. How beautiful to enjoy an English afternoon tea with the most lovely views across the Isle of Purbeck and beyond. Thank you so much for the kind hospitality and also to those people who supported the event as their donations raised £227 for the Church. We ourselves enjoyed our Open Garden Days and were grateful to all who came as we raised £333 for Weldmar Hospicecare as well as £130 for Widows in Ukraine, who are helped by the charity Hope Now.

The Kingston Country Fair for the Air Ambulance will be even bigger this year and held once again at Kingston Courtyard by courtesy of Alan and Ann Fry. The Saturday evening Music event starts at 6pm with a BBQ and support bands, but we are all really looking forward to the special performance by the amazing Fab Beatles – who will perform later on. Having seen them a few times before, in Devon and Somerset, I can really recommend this as a night not to be missed – they will bring all our favourite oldies and look the part too. Tickets are just £10 (07971 764823) or from Doreen (07506235038). Don’t forget Saturday, 7 July!

The next day, 8 July, there will be a whole host of fun activities – Dog show, classic cars, model airplanes, including the Vulcan in action, plenty of stalls, cream teas local hog roast, huge raffle, vintage vehicles, and much more. Just £5 a car with proceeds going to the valued Air Ambulance which serves this area. In case people were wondering, we are having a Family Service 11.15 at St James’ Church that day, led by Revd Tony Edmunds.

There will be Communion with Revd John Staples on 22 July at 11.15. There will be a special Patronal service at 9.30am on Sunday, 29 July at St James’ Church (informal – as it is a 5th Sunday).

It is unlikely that we will manage a fête in the village this year however, please Save the date for a Festival Week in September when we shall be trying to having various events to bring the Church and Community together. We are hoping to hear from local writers, businesses musicians and people who are passionate about their hobby. There will be crafts, flowers, Tower visits and Open Days to bring together people in the area enjoy catching up with others. Details will be released next month via the Dubber, the website and facebook. If you feel you would like to participate in any way please phone Doreen (07506 235038) or Judy (07724 325735) but do put the date in your diaries. Music afternoon with Cream Teas, 16 September, and various events through the week culminating with Open Days and a Celebration Service on Sunday, 23 September. In the meantime – enjoy the summer weather and the beautiful area we live in and share it joyfully with those who only manage to visit for a few days a year.

Judy Forgan