Village News – July 2017

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Church Stall

We are having a stall in aid of Kingston Church at the Kingston Country Fair Air Ambulance Fête on Sunday, 9 July and are intending to sell Bric-a-Brac, books, plants, etc. to raise funds. If anyone has anything that might sell and wish to donate please contact either Doreen Farr on 07506235038 or Judy Robson on 07541215500 and we will be happy to collect donations.

Also on Sunday, 16 July we are serving cream teas in the Church with accompanying music. Please come along if you are able to. We look forward to welcoming you to the Church.

Doreen Farr

Kingston Notes

Last month’s Kingston Notes were so late being written that I missed the deadline. So, in an effort to break the habit of a lifetime which is being perpetually late for everything, I thought I’d make a start on this quite early in June – it is now the 21st and the notes are due in on Friday, 23rd – what can possibly go wrong?

A friend once told me that being late is graceless. My excuse is that I was born two weeks late and so have been tarred with that late brush for eternity or at least until I depart my graceless existence.

Anyway, Spring rapidly turned into Summer and my naughty escapologist lady cat unexpectedly gave birth to three kittens two weeks ago – all very sweet and mole-like. Besides that, the hot summer weather resulted in sightings of the great white British male in all his bare-chested and often saggy stomached glory. Next it will be the socks and sandal brigade – the British have such great elan.

On a more serious note – the warm weather has encouraged a few random butterflies into my garden which made me quite excited. Years ago, my parents garden was covered in all types of butterfly but now even seeing one is turning into a rare event. A bit like all the orchids that used to grow abundantly in the woods at Kingston; they are dying out I think. When I was a child, I am afraid to say, my brothers and I used to pick large bunches and take them home for my mother, the butterfly orchids smelt and looked beautiful and despite all our pickings they came back each year even more profusely. Butterfly orchids, bee orchids, those mauve ones and some other green variety – not great with names! Last year I found two butterfly orchids and this year so far I have seen not one. I wonder if it’s the climate, the change in the countryside itself, etc., etc. that has made them virtually die out or just that everyone stopped picking them. Answers on a postcard, please.

Last month’s request for news of the cuckoo resulted in one actual postcard – thank you Mrs Cole – who told me she had heard the cuckoo twice at Arne this year. My request for any bits of Kingston news resulted in nil so consequently I have waffled!

The date for the showing of the refurbished altar frontals is now set for 16 July in the Church with music, by Roderick, and teas and the ladies of NADFAS who undertook the work. They will be bringing some photos to show how the work progressed etc.; it would be lovely if a few people came and looked and chatted with them (I’m not sure of the times but probably about 1pm till 5pm).

Another date for the diary is 2 September when we will be holding a small Fête in the Church grounds to raise funds for the repairs to the Church and for a local charity probably linked to helping people with cancer. You know what is coming next; I will surprise you and leave asking for help until next month and also don’t forget the Air Ambulance Summer Fayre which is on 9 July; The Air Ambulance does such great work so lots of support please from everyone to raise funds for them.

On a more serious note – I am sure you will all have heard by now that Gaynor, our Vicar, will be leaving us to go and work in Wales in August. I am not entirely sure what will happen next but there is a meeting next week and after that we will know a little more. Gaynor arrived just in time to meet my mother a few times before her death and in the space of six years took three funeral services for my family (my mother, father and husband) which she did beautifully. Thank you, Gaynor.

Finally, ‘get well soon’ and a virtual hug from me, for Diane Cole who has been in the wars recently and is feeling a little bit miserable, here is one of my mum’s favourite little poems to cheer you up; it always made her laugh.

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He’d paid his debt to society; his sentence was over at last,

He collected his meagre belongings, and said goodbye to his past,

The bars clanged shut behind him as he stepped through the prison door,

“I’m free” he shouted “I’m free” – a little boy said “I’m four”!

Susan Ireland

WW2 Mustang Crashes near Smedmore Hill

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Paul Doyle of Bere Regis is researching the crash locations of three WW2 Mustang fighter-bombers that crashed near Smedmore Hill on 26 May 1943 and is keen to hear from anyone who may be able to shed more light on the precise crash locations, in particular AP210 ‘Y’ which went down one mile NE of Smedmore House (just south of West Orchard) and AG550 ‘U’ which crashed into Stonehill Down 2 miles north of Smedmore House.

If you can help, please message info[at]kingstonopc.org.uk and we will put you in touch with Paul.

Message from David Cook

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Like David Cooper (who has produced an excellent history of the Cooper family), my father Christopher Seward Cook is also a great grandson of Charles Seaward Cooper.

My father celebrated his 100th birthday on 15th January 2017! His grandmother was Eliza, the second child of Charles and Sarah Cooper. Eliza married Walter Cook from Rusper and they had two children:

  • Seward James Cook (my grandfather) who married Clara Ethel Brain. Seward James was a member of London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade) and killed in World War 1 on 16 June 1917.
  • Florence Cook.

I am also trying to establish why Seward James Cook was apparently also called Sid.

Village News – December 2016

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Kingston Christmas Party

We will be holding a Christmas Party/get-together for the village this year at the Scott Arms – probably the week before Christmas – when the details/date have been sorted a poster will be put in the Scott Arms and leaflets through letter boxes! However, would be good to know if anyone would be interested in coming in advance – usual sort of thing – quiz, raffle, food etc – unless anyone has any brilliant ideas for something exciting and new – in which case please get in touch with Sue or Peter – who will be waiting with bated breath – for some sort of response from anyone! Be great to have some fresh input/help with this event!

Telephone: 481372 (Susan Ireland) and 480212 (Peter Buckle)

Christingle Oranges

If any child would like an orange at the Christingle Service, Kingston this year which will be held on Christmas Eve could you please get in touch with Susan or Peter on the numbers above – thanks.

Sue Ireland

Village News – October 2016

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The recent Flower, Craft and Music Festival held at St James’ Church, Kingston was a great success. It started on Friday night with a concert featuring The Military Wives’ Choir from Bovington, Woodwind Trio Zephyrae and the solioist Rosie Horn. All were a pleasure to listen to, so talented, and the impromptu rendition of Panis Angelicus from Rosie Horn with the woodwind trio was delightful.

The Flower and Craft Festival was on Saturday and Sunday and was much enjoyed by all who attended. The church looked wonderful with all the flower arrangements and crafts. There was also music at times during the weekend from Zephyhrae, Roderick Raley on the organ with Felicity Smith on the violin, The Swanage Recorder Group and proceedings were brought to a close by Harmony Rocks Choir on Sunday afternoon. Many thanks to all the performers and also to Claire who is musical director of both The Military Wives and Harmony Rocks.

We would like to thank everyone who helped to make the event a success – the musicians, the flower arrangers and the people who displayed and demonstrated their crafts, the stallholders and the ladies who made cakes and everyone who helped with the refreshments, the setting up and the clearing up afterwards. We would also like to thank Albury and Hall Estate Agents for sponsoring and erecting advertising signs and James Smiths Funeral Directors for sponsoring the programmes. I hope we have remembered to thank everyone for giving up their time to help. We could not have run the event without you all.

Judy Forgan & Doreen Farr

Gravestone Image – Jesse William & Bessie Beatrice Marsh

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Photo of gravestone taken in 2015 by Jan Marsh

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Inscription

Jesse William Marsh was born at Kingston on 14 May 1892 to Charles Marsh (1858-1936), a carter, and Sarah Marsh nee Tatchell (1858-1927) who were living at West Hill. Between 1901 and 1911, the family moved to Orchard Hill. Soon after the outbreak of the First World War, Jesse was serving his country. He is thought to have been with the Royal Garrison Artillery.

Jesse married Bessie Beatrice Bray at Kingston on 11 September 1916. At the time Jesse was residing at South Farnborough. Bessie was born on 18 January 1894. Her father was named as William John Bray on the marriage record but further investigation suggests her father’s middle name may have been Henry instead. The witnesses were John Marsh (brother of Jesse) and Katherine Hunt.

Jesse and Bessie continued to live at Orchard Hill. It is thought they had three children (born 1920, 1922 and 1924) but none were living at home in September 1939 when Jesse gave his occupation as Farm Foreman.

Bessie saw the RAF airplane immediately before it crashed on 18 March 1938 – see Three Killed in R.A.F. Accident.

Bessie died on 22 December 1945 aged 51 and was buried at Kingston New Church two days later (Christmas Eve). Jesse survived her by just under eleven years. He died aged 64 on 1 December 1956 and was buried three days later.

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Gravestone Image – Edward John & Winifred Annie Marshallsay

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Photo of gravestone taken in 2015 by Jan Marsh

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Inscription

Known information:

Edward John Marshallsay was born on 22 December 1892. He was known as John.

Winifred Annie Hobbs was born on 12 July 1899 to Leonard Hobbs (1866–1953) and Annie Hobbs nee Vincent (1858-1935). The family were living at Bushey in 1901 and 1911.

John married Winifred Annie Hobbs in the second half of 1930 and they are believed to have had two children, a son and a daughter. In September 1939, John, a clayworker and Winifred were living at Rose Cottage, Norden, along with one child (name not known).

Winifred was aged 76 when she died. She was buried at Kingston New Church on 7 August 1975. John lived to age 85 and was buried at Kingston New Church on 13 May 1977.

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Village News – September 2016

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Kingston News

We would like to remind everyone about the Flower, Craft and Music Festival in September at St James’. There is a concert at 7pm on Friday, 16 September with the Bovington Military Wives Choir and the Woodwind Trio Zephyrae. Entry is free with a retiring collecting. The Flower and Crafts with music is on Saturday, 17 and Sunday, 18 September from 10am till 5pm. There are various musical recitals over the two days and Harmony Rocks choir will be singing at 3.30pm on Sunday. If anyone is able to help with serving the refreshments of ploughman’s, cream teas and cakes please telephone Doreen on 07506235038 or 480837. We look forward to seeing you there for what should be a good ‘Celebration of Life and Achievements’.

Chairs

Following a comment in the visitors book at St James’ Church from a Corfe Castle resident, I feel I must respond. These chairs are not what we would ideally have liked but we had to work within very strict guidelines set by the Diocese. We need stackable chairs to enable the Church to be multi-functional in order to try to ensure its survival and to fund the maintenance costs of the beautiful building which are considerable. After months of negotiation with the Diocese we complied with what the Chancellor would accept and we could afford. The PCC have spent several years fundraising and thanks to the success of the events held and the generosity of individual donors we raised enough to buy seventy new chairs. We have, in the last few days, received a further generous donation which should enable us to buy a further fifteen chairs.

Fête

The Fête in August was blessed with a beautiful day and was very successful with a lovely atmosphere with music and many stalls and games. Thanks to Sue and Peter and everyone who helped to make the day such a success. Without these helpers it would not be possible to hold such events.

Doreen Farr

KINGSTON FETE

Just a quick thank you to everyone who helped with the Fête – setting it all up – helping on the day with the stalls, games, teas etc. to the Scott Arms for the bar and bbq and Purbeck ice creams – to the musicians who came and played so well (and amazingly didn’t want paying). Having hoped for a dry day and got one, we were a bit down on the number of children this year – the beach being a better option – but apart from that it all went ok-ish. I will post what we made in the next month’s Dubber. Thanks again – big gold stars all round.

Susan Ireland

FRED

Fred Keevil lived in Kingston for about 30 years. He was originally a Fashion Photographer, and later on in his life took to photographing County shows and riding events. He had various dogs which were a great love of his. His little Terrier, Mouse, was probably his favourite. He and a friend use to puppy walk hound puppies for the local hunt. Lately he had become very lonely and reclusive, although still driving his car, going shopping and managing to look after himself. It became obvious early in June that he was no longer able to care for himself and was taken to Dorchester Hospital where he died few weeks later.

Greta Hardy