June already, and this year our prayers at our Rogation gathering on May 22nd were to both welcome in Spring and also to pray for some rain to help the crops withering in the farmers` fields.
Our Rogation gathering and service this year was held at Lower Farm Newbury, as Reverend John Townend remarked in his address, a different setting to previous years, we could see the old farm house and buildings converted to dwellings a few years ago, the gravel stockpile the fruit of the ground, extraction has now ended and the site of the most recent extraction will be restored to a lake alongside those already there.
Although the restoration of the existing lakes only took place a few years ago, already nature has taken the site back with a vengeance, where once there was a huge hole in the grounds, fields are now found with cattle grazing peacefully, all breeds of water fowl were seen and as we drove into the Car Park a deer jumped up out of the long grass and ran round the lake.
The Sunday was perfect except for near gale force winds which made the job of holding the lesson sheets very difficult and for the Wantage Silver band their job of carrying large heavy instruments ever more difficult. A lovely service was conducted by Rev John Townend with readings by the President Malcolm Bull, his 7 year old granddaughter, myself as Chairman of the Show and Vice Chairman Ian Nutt, followed by a huge tea in a marquee alongside 1 of the lakes, a beautiful setting to end a lovely afternoon, my thanks to Mike Bissell, Becky and all the ladies who helped prepare the tea.
SOCIAL MEDIA