ST PETER’S FESTIVAL

Drawing by Darren Kettle

Charlecote Park

After what seemed a very long time Charlecote house has now lost its wrapping of scaffolding and sheeting. By June it should be fully weatherproof, with the stonework repaired and ready to greet the summer visitors.

On June 12^th there will be another Falconry Day. The “Walk with the Gardener” at 2pm on 25^th June is free and needs no advance booking. An Alvis Car Rally will be held in the grounds on 19^th June, between 11am and 3pm. There will be a bat walk on 25^th June 9.30pm – £5.00 – please book ahead.

Heartbreak productions return again this summer, so why not book for Pinocchio on 18^th June (5.30pm), Taming of the Shrew 9^th July (7.30pm) or Pride and Prejudice 13^th August (7.30pm). Book on-line at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-charlecotepark or call 0844 249 1895.

Unfortunately we received a letter from the BBC and our Antiques Roadshow will now not be shown until Spring 2012. This is due to a Shakespeare season being planned as part of the cultural Olympiad in spring 2012 and with the Charlecote connections they would like to use the Charlecote Roadshow as part of that season of shows.

The second-hand bookshop has been doing so well that stocks are running low. Will anyone with unwanted books they can pass on please bring them to Charlecote – they can be left at the reception in the car park.

For further details, please contact Charlecote Park on 01789 470277 or visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-charlecotepark .

8^th – 10^th July 2011

The festival celebrates 400 years of the King James’ Bible which was finished in 1611.

St Peter’s is holding an art exhibition over the weekend featuring a passage linked to the Bible, and there will be a workshop in the Church Centre led by experienced artists of the Wellesbourne Art Group to help anyone who wants to come along. Over the weekend there will be a Bible exhibition, and a scriptorium where you can try your hand at calligraphy the old fashioned way. Teas will be served in the Church and there is to be an exhibition by Chedham’s Yard Trust in the Church Centre with stalls in the Churchyard.

Don’t forget the two concerts. On Friday at 7pm there will be a concert by the St Peter's Singers, The Junior St. James' Singers, Wellesbourne C of E Primary School and a number of young instrumentalists from the Wellesbourne area led by St Peter’s organist Jackson Towers.

Early on Sunday evening the Cantamus Choir from Shipston, under their conductor Richard Emms, will sing unaccompanied choral music both ancient and modern.

There are still one or two pitches available so if you or your organisation would like a stall it’s not too late to contact Kate on 840262.

Tailpiece

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.
After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like Mother of Pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold.
He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. When he was close enough, he called out, “Excuse me, where are we?”
“This is Heaven, sir,” the man answered.
“Wow! Would you happen to have some water?” the man asked.
“Of course, sir; come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up.” The man gestured, and the gate began to open.
“Can my friend,” gesturing toward his dog, “come in, too?” the traveller asked.
“I'm sorry sir, but we don't accept pets.”
The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.
After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road which led through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.
“Excuse me!” he called to the reader. “Do you have any water?”
“Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there”. The man pointed to a place that couldn't be seen from outside the gate. “Come on in.”
“How about my friend here?” the traveller gestured to the dog.
“There should be a bowl by the pump.” They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.
The traveller filled the bowl and took a long drink himself, and then he gave some to the dog. When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree waiting for them. “What do you call this place?” the traveller asked.
“This is Heaven,” he answered.
“Well, that's confusing,” the traveller said. “The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.”
“Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope, that's Hell.”
“Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?”
“No. I can see how you might think so, but we're just happy that they screen out the folks who'll leave their best friends behind.”