WALTON NEWS

High summer at last! We had beautiful weather for the Open Garden at the Old Rectory, bright sunshine and very little wind - no fear of the gazebos blowing away. The garden was looking at its best and most things seemed to have been encouraged by the cold winter rather than the reverse, with roses competing with the syringa for height, and the mauve buddleia climbing right up to the top of the holly tree. Visitors were glad to sit in the shade of the walnut which was presented to me by the Guides as a little sapling thirty odd years ago and now produces a fine crop of nuts, to the delight of the squirrels who will soon be coming around to take them off to winter storage. We much missed Iris this year who sadly was in hospital, but she had explained the system of semaphore which prevents cars going up and down the narrow drive at the same time and there was just enough parking space for all. The Macmillan committee and their friends worked hard dispensing teas and well over £500 was raised for the funds. Many thanks to all of them and to Brian for working so hard in the garden - there were many appreciative comments of his weed-less flower beds and flourishing rows of vegetables. Some friends who have visited National Trust and other properties all over the country said that they had never seen a better kitchen garden in all their travels!

The weather was not quite so kind for the summer concert in the church and a chill breeze got up at tea time although the rain held off and this did nothing to take away from the enjoyment provided by the Coten Singers and Ensemble with music to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the birth of Pergolesi. Geoffrey Holroyde has been bringing music to Walton in various guises for a number of years and some of the singers have kept the connection since the days when they were choristers in Coventry Cathedral. Tea was followed by a lovely service of sung evensong, starting off with the Ave Maris Stella from the Monteverdi Vespers and finishing with Bach's Fugue in D Minor, 'the Giant' based on the Chorale 'We all believe in God', where the pedal part represents a Giant, probably Moses, climbing the stairs and descending again with the Commandments.

The afternoon was well supported and nearly £500 was raised for the funds, particularly pleasing to Geoffrey Holroyde who is a great admirer of the organ which he describes as a very fine instrument and he is delighted to help raise funds towards its overhaul and restoration. The singers and instrumentalists all tell us how much they enjoy coming to Walton and we certainly appreciate the time they devote to rehearsing for their immaculate performance.

One of the heaters in the church has recently been replaced - the one which I usually sit by so I shall feel the difference! Now, however, it is good to go in from the heat outside into the cool of the building, and the early morning services have been particularly pleasurable. We are very sorry that Penny Upton has been unable to play the organ on the fourth Sundays, owing to her bad shoulder and we wish her a speedy recovery. On those occasions we sang unaccompanied, and although it has to be admitted that none of us could be Dorothy and we could have done with some help from 'Over the Rainbow', we did our best, even if at times the tone was a trifle sepulchral!

So now we go on to the fête on Sunday afternoon, August 8th, from 1pm to 4pm and we pray that our weather luck will hold. We look forward to seeing you there - and your dogs as well at the Dog Show. There will be all the usual attractions, with Punch and Judy, children's sports, many stalls and the teas of course, all arranged against the background of the Church and the magnificent and well kept grounds of Walton Hall.

Hero Herbert pads his way to a £15,000 charity pay off

More Guiding News

Congratulations to Wellesbourne Rainbow Guides Lola, Maisie and Skye who were runners up in the County Cookery Competition. The girls had to work as a team to present a plate of decorated cakes. The Rainbows piped butter icing on to their cakes and then decorated them with icing butterflies and sugared violas. The picture shows the girls with their certificates and prizes.

Guides looking for new leaders
Mary Lively is standing down as Guide Leader after 10 years and we thank her for her service. Could you fill her shoes? For more information on how to become involved with Guiding in Wellesbourne contact Kate Skinner tel. 01789 842148.

School Prayer Tree

A group of children in the annex joined in the after school praise and play activities over a three week period in June. They created a colourful 'tree' using wire bound in plaster of Paris bandages which were then painted and assembled as in the picture. This tree now sits proudly on the piano in the area where we have assembly. When children have things they want to pray about, they are invited to write them on the tree labels provided and hang them on the tree. Each Wednesday at the Church Visitor Assembly the leader will pray any prayers which have been put on the tree during the week. The children who were part of this group explained to the rest of the children in the annex what we did.

During our time together we began each session with squash and biscuits. The hour passed very quickly with learning new songs, playing games and other crafts. We took home a leaf card with a grace on it to say at mealtimes and our own little prayer tree. Thank you to Mrs Partridge for the use of her classroom.

A Wellesbourne Springer spaniel called Herbert duly sprung into action when his owner's three pals had to drop out of a planned charity walk.

Today the canny canine is resting his paws back at home in Chestnut Square, Wellesbourne, after helping Warwick businessman Iain Melvin raise over £15,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association after completing the arduous 192-mile Coast-to-Coast walk from St Bees in Cumbria through the Lake District, North Pennines, Yorkshire Dales, Vale of Mowbray and North York Moors to Robin Hood's Bay in North Yorkshire.

“We walked for 12 days, and Herbie's sense of direction and boundless energy helped spur me on,” said Iain. “I'm hopeless with a map and compass, but somehow he seemed to know his way across the moors and fells in mist, driving rain – and even snow.”

The 44-year-old managing director of MPS Builders Merchants in Warwick was inspired to raise money by the efforts of his friend and colleague, who has been bravely fighting MND for the past two years.

Iain said: “It is a terrible disease and the MND charity is doing a wonderful job helping sufferers but as it is so rare there's not enough money to fund proper sup­port and research for a cure”.

Donations are still being ac­cepted through the Justgiv­ing website: www.justgiving. com/IainMelvinC2CforMND .

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