Welcome to the South Hill Connection Newsletter

A Newsletter produced by and for the Parish of South Hill


Welcome to the South Hill Connection Newsletter!

Newsletter number 76, April 2020

In the latest edition of the South Hill Connection, published early this time to spread information about the current emergency:

  • Information: what the Parish does in this time of emergency
  • What to do if you self-isolate
  • Where you can find help
  • Our regulars:
    • SHARE
    • U3A
    • Recycling
    • Church Matters
    • South Hill Parish Council and Parish Hall
  • and more…
  • The South Hill Connection Newsletter would like to introduce a guest editor to assist the news team.
  • Assemble the articles and advertisers into a new design or follow the existing guide lines, your choice. You will be supported by others and proof-readers to produce the April/May edition or pick other months. Why not?
  • Give it a go. Email newsdesk@south-hill.co.uk

Newsletter full version – click here…    Newsletter condensed version – click here…

Please tell us what you think of it by contacting editor@south-hill.co.uk

Archived newsletters (all of them!)
can be found in our public Google Drive folder – here…

Some news articles are also posted here as a blog. The latest will always be at the top. If you want to search for news articles you can do so using the Search box on the right, or by selecting a News Category from the drop-down list.

Details of events in and around South Hill can be found on our Events Calendar

Business advertisers can be found on our Local Business page

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Private Godfrey


Private Godfrey, played by Arnold Ridley, was the only member of the original cast of Dad’s Army who had served in both world wars – as well as signing up for the Home Guard. Arnold endured horrific hand-to-hand combat in the trenches at the Somme in 1916. A bayonet through his left hand rendered him unable to use his fingers. He also suffered blackouts after being hit on the back of the head with a German rifle butt. Arnold first volunteered for the Army in 1914. But the 18-year-old was rejected as he had broken a toe playing rugby. After reapplying a year later, he was accepted to the Somerset Light Infantry. He was posted to France and within days of arriving was hit by shrapnel and shot through the thigh. He returned to the front from convalescence only to be sent over the top twice during the Battle of the Somme in 1916. The first time, was at Delville Wood, where many of his comrades fell. And during a second attack, at Gueudecourt, now as a Lance Corporal, Arnold’s battalion took even more devastating losses from machine gun fire. When the survivors reached the German trenches they pushed back the enemy troops with bayonets and bombs, before Arnold was knocked to the ground by a rifle blow to the head. A German soldier lunged with a bayonet, but Arnold survived by deflecting the blade into his groin instead of his stomach. The next blow pierced his left hand and wrist. Arnold came round in a field hospital. It took 15 ops to save his hand and he was invalided back home. Arnold volunteered for the Intelligence Corps in the Second World War, making films in France. After being discharged on medical grounds, he joined the Home Guard, before touring bases, entertaining the troops. While he described the First World War in detail in his unpublished autobiography, Arnold could not write about the Second World War. He said: “To recount events, I would have to relive them. I am too afraid.” He suffered horrific nightmares and regularly woke drenched in sweat. He was terrified he would black out on stage but was such a brave man and kept acting when he could. William Arnold Ridley OBE 1896 – 1984

Church Matters – April 2020


Church Matters – April 2020 This month we shall be celebrating Easter in our Churches. Although using the word ‘celebrating’ in this connection seems in some ways inappropriate. At Easter we remember two key events in the Life of Jesus – his death and his resurrection. The first, his death, is not of course something that we would feel comfortable rejoicing about; yet it is through his death in our place that our relationship with God can be restored. The second, his resurrection, is undoubtedly worth throwing a party over, for it proves that Jesus has triumphed over sin and death. Perhaps it is this bitter/sweet character to Easter that makes it a Christian festival that is less well supported in our Churches than Christmas is. Christmas may be celebrated by sending cards with images from the birth narrative: the baby Jesus lying in the manger, the Christmas star shining brightly to show the way, the wise men and the shepherds gathered to wonder at the child. Easter is not so well served by images of the events themselves; gruesome images of a cruel Roman execution will have only a very limited appeal, as will pictures of a shrouded body lying still and cold; neither is it easy to portray the resurrection graphically – a burst of light from the empty tomb seems most popular. And yet these two events – Christmas and Easter – are part of one and the same story. It is Jesus who was both the baby lying in the manger and 33 years later the body lying still and cold in a borrowed tomb. It is Jesus who was both the baby wondered at by wise men and shepherds and 33 years later was the ‘first born from the dead’ greeted in amazement by his disciples after his resurrection. The story of Jesus is only complete when the two are put together, along with all that happened in between, and all the wondrous implications that stem from both of them are realised. How it saddens me, then, that so few ‘celebrate’ both events. We have made attempts, of course, at producing Easter images that are more palatable. Eggs, bunnies, spring lambs and spring flowers are all symbols in some way of new life. But they beg the question as to what we are celebrating; Easter or a festival of spring? How many of our children will make the connection between their chocolate eggs and new life in the risen Jesus? Will they realise, and do we, that the baby in the manger and the Easter lamb are in any way linked; that Jesus is ‘the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’? I could argue that there is so much more good news, so much more to celebrate, about Easter than there is at Christmas. Christmas offers the promise but Easter gives the fulfilment. I pray that for once this Easter Sunday our Churches may be as full, or even fuller, than they normally are at Christmas. That they would be filled with crowds intent on focussing on good news. On the first Easter morning the angel said to the women looking for Jesus’ body “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” This Easter come and join in at a Church near you as we celebrate ‘the one who was, and is, and is to come’ – the living JESUS.

Burning wood and coal


SHARE Welcomes the recent announcement by the Government to phase out the sale of coal and wet wood for domestic burning next year.

The tiny particles produced when these fuels are burnt pollute the air and have a serious effect on human health. To reduce our emissions of CO₂ and slow down climate change we must stop burning fossil fuels. Coal is especially bad so coupled with the air pollution it causes, we really must stop using it.

Fortunately there is an easy fix to the problem of wet wood. Dry it properly ! A recently felled tree will have a moisture content anywhere from 40% up to 60%. This must be reduced to around 20% to burn without producing the particles that the health experts are so concerned about. Burning wet wood also produces tar which will condense in your chimney, could corrode the liner, could block it or it could fall back into the fire and start a chimney fire. Economically, burning wet wood doesn’t make any sense either. Basically you are using a proportion of your fuel simply to evaporate the excess moisture in it.

All of the firewood supplied by SHARE is properly seasoned and stored in the dry. All customers are advised to store it undercover and are very often helped to stack it there.

Top tips: • Use a woodburner rather than an open fire to get the most useful heat out of your wood fuel. • Have your flue swept regularly. • Ensure the door seals are undamaged and effective. • Check the vents and other controls are in good working order. • Ensure the room has a vent allowing fresh air in and a carbon monoxide alarm.

Stay warm: Phone Ali for local wood deliveries. 07305 044049

SHARE Update


Investment Offer over-subscribed For the past few years SHARE has offered a fixed-term investment opportunity. This is our means of paying off our capital investment in the 40kW solar PV installation at Church Park, South Hill. Each time, we look to raise a certain amount of capital, spread between as many investors as possible and offer to our members first. We are already over-subscribed for this year. Thank you for your support. Church Park is performing well, in fact much better than our initial cashflow predictions, which is why we can offer 4% interest to our investors. To date the project has generated electricity equivalent to that used per year on average by 4 UK households (4,648kWh). This is a carbon saving of 7.5tonnes CO2e. As a matter of interest I have just read that the average USA household uses 11,700kWh of electricity!

Recycling for Charity suspended due to Covid-19 Please save your items and sort like items together, our volunteers can no longer sort out crisp packets from sweet and biscuit wrappers etc, we need your help. When you have a bag full, drop to Green Meadows.

Climate changing emissions down – CO2 and NOx One positive result of the current pandemic is the huge reduction in “greenhouse gas” emissions globally. Parts of China worst affected by the virus have seen up to 25% less Nitrogen Dioxide in the atmosphere, as observed by NASA on satellite images. The BBC reported that there are observable reductions in CO2 emissions in the UK due to people travelling less, and lower air pollution levels in towns and cities. Perhaps the current enforcement of home working and holding remote meetings will make people realise that not everybody needs to be out on the roads every day.

SHARE in the Community While events were still going ahead, we have been very active in the area spreading the word about SHARE and our projects to various groups from W.I , U3A, Youth Groups and attending a number of Environmental Action Group meetings held by Cornwall Council and local Towns and Parishes.

Firewood and wood chippings available Large trailer load logs £120; dumpy bag logs £60. Dumpy bag chippings £5 Contact Ali 07305 044049

Tree Planting Another 400 trees planted! Thank you to the children that helped plant trees along the verges in the parish.

Stay safe and be sensible  Don’t panic buy, there is plenty to go round. Over buying of fresh food especially could lead to food waste, which we’ve all been trying to cut down on.

Ask if you need help, we’re all in this together.

St Sampson’s Unlocked Project Update


Lots has been happening in the background since Christmas, with quotes, condition reports and plenty of visiting experts on bells, ceiling, gutters, windows, monuments and heating. We are working closely with our architect, who has to oversee a lot of the work because our wonderful grade 1 listed building needs to be cared for sensitively, to preserve our unique heritage and at the same time make it fit for 21C use by the community and congregation. We are blessed by having a 14thC piece of Christian Cornish history in our midst (Trelawny himself would have set foot here in his first parish as Rector) and we must be thankful to all those who have cared for it over the years. Now it is our turn to be tasked to care for St Sampson’s and maintain it for the future. Older members of the church and community may remember that it was thought when the tower work was done 20 years ago, that the roof would need re-slating in 10 to 20 years. Thankfully all the advice we have received is that the roof generally remains in good condition. A recent survey revealed that some slating and timber work is needed in the roof valley, but the rest was ok. The ceiling, however, is proving to be a major job. Conversations are ongoing with a specialist plasterer, our architect and Historic England. The mains water and path lighting will commence soon. Many thanks to the Treffinick Solar fund for a generous funding contribution towards this work. Funding for all the different elements of the improvements are being sought from here, there and everywhere and fundraising events are being planned. Including; Beating the Bounds walk on Sunday May 24th, a dance festival June 13th and a murder mystery evening in November. We will, of course, adhere to government advice regarding coronavirus and postpone if required. If you would like to hold a fundraising event on our behalf, big or small, please get in touch.

It would also really help our forward planning and funding applications if a few more people could make regular donations by standing order, however small. Again, please get in touch if you can help and thank you to the people who are already helping in this way. South Hill quiz night in January raised £168. Thank you to the 50 people who supported it. It was a fun evening especially trying to work out the location of the Cornish elevators!

The four pews dating from 1873, which were removed to make space for hospitality, have all found loving homes in the parish. There may be a few more at some time. The relocation of the font, from the back of the church to in front of the organ, which completes making the space for hospitality and a future mini kitchen, should take place soon when the faculty (church “planning permission”) is finalised. Some of you may remember it being moved to its present position about 50 years ago. If you have any memories of this, we would love to hear from you.

Thank you to everyone who is supporting this project, in whatever way. Community support is vital in securing St Sampson’s future. This is South Hill’s Church. It belongs to us all. Keep in touch by following St Sampson’s Unlocked on Facebook. Questions ? Ask judithayers@yahoo.co.uk 01579 384617 mlawranceowen@icloud.com 01579 382863

St. Sampson’s update


Dear friends at St Sampson’s, You have probably seen this news, so in summary: –

all Church services are suspended until further notice – churches are encouraged to remain open during the day as a place of sanctuary – churches encouraged to continue to pray – church communities are encouraged to continue to support food bank, homeless etc – church members encouraged to support individuals in their local community.

I enclose Bishop Phillip’s letter at the end of this e mail, which is very encouraging The letter finishes by saying: “We have called, along with our fellow church leaders, for a day of prayer and action this coming Sunday – Mothering Sunday (22nd March). Mothering Sunday has always been both a day of celebration for many and a sensitive and emotional day for some. Wherever you are this Sunday please do join in this day of prayer and action and remember especially those who are sick or anxious, and all involved in our Health Service. As one action, we are calling on everyone to place a lighted candle in their window at 7.00 p.m. as a sign of solidarity and hope in the light of Christ that can never be extinguished.”

St Sampson’s church will remain open for prayer. Their are sanitising wipes and gel on the table at the back. On Sunday mornings at 9.30am a Reader and/or worship leader will say the morning worship service on behalf of everyone. Please use the service booklet you have, to be united in prayer. If you don’t have one and would like one, please let me know. Tuesday morning prayer gathering will continue in church at 9.30am. (we can do this because we are small in number) Keeping our distance of course. I will soon be sending everyone a sheet with prayers for you to use and suggestions of online resources. The church of England website is very good and updated daily at the moment. Please continue to pray in whatever way you can. South Hill has an emergency support plan set up for us all to use. If you are able, think about volunteering to help the vulnerable, or if you need help in any way, contact them. Mark and Mandy Haxby are co-ordinating this 07543062251. They are also liaising with volunteer Cornwall. Or make contact via the South Hill Facebook page. As a church my name is the main contact point. Keep looking at South Hill parish website, their is lots of local news and information on what is happening.

There will be regular phone calls made to our congregation who are self isolating to check all is well. Please let me know if you are self isolating. We will all need phone calls and e mail contact to keep in touch, please keep in touch with each other and your neighbours. If you would like prayer support or a listening ear please let me know.

Please continue to give financially. Church bills still need to be paid. Either arrange a direct debit, or put your offering aside and then it can be collected. Things seem to be changing rapidly, so these provisions may change. I will try and keep you updated. We are a community of believers, have faith, love God and love one another. Blessings to you all and keep safe in this very strange time. Judith 07748773416 On behalf of St Sampson’s Church

Pastoral statement by the Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, Bishop of Truro 17.3.2020 My friends, I’m sharing this message today not just with the clergy and people of the Diocese of Truro, but with everyone here in Cornwall at what is a very challenging time for us all. You’ll be aware of how much has changed in just a few short days. By now you will probably have heard too the call of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York to suspend public worship for a season. That will come as a shock and challenge to many of you, but in the circumstances, and following the best medical advice, I’m sure it’s right. But I want to say very clearly to you that does not mean the Church is shutting up shop! Far from it. Now is the time for the Church of God to rise to this great challenge of our times. I cannot help but feel that this crisis challenges us deeply to be just the kind of Church our God is a calling us to be. And I believe too that that this crisis challenges Cornwall to be its very best: to express in heart and soul the spirit of One and All. So to us all in Cornwall I would say – let us be the very best we can be. This is the opportunity we all have to shine, to be our better selves. It’s a great challenge: but let’s rise to it. And if you are feeling isolated and fearful, remember you are not alone. There are many people standing by you, even if you can’t see them – and our God has not changed: he remains good and faithful and we can trust him and rely upon him. He won’t let us down. And if you’re working in the public services, our NHS, the emergency services and the caring professions, planning and working to respond in the best way possible to the many challenges we face and who may be very stretched in the days to come: do know that we are cheering you on. We’re deeply thankful for you and are praying for you – and for your families too. For the Church – whilst our pattern of worship will change significantly I think our church buildings need to be more open, not less, providing space for people to come and pray and be and socially interact (at an appropriate distance of course). We should use digital media creatively wherever we can and we are working on identifying a few churches in the diocese where live streaming of worship might be possible. And we need to be the feet on the ground in our communities – identifying those who are lonely and isolated, fearful and grieving and doing all we can, within the constraints that are placed up on us, and without exposing people to unnecessary risk, to show in word and in deed the love of Christ. Likewise there will be others who will find these times very challenging economically: again we need to do all we can to meet their needs. Let’s keep the foodbanks well stocked up. So for us as a church this will not be business as usual. But it will NOT be no business, it will be ‘business unusual’. We’ll still be about the business of the Kingdom of God, but in new, different, committed, creative and deeply caring ways. The big question this crisis asks of us as a Church is this: will we meet its challenge to love and serve and give as Jesus did, for we are nothing less than his Body here on earth? I pray we will and will not be found wanting at this great hour of need. And to all of us I would say, across Cornwall, in this crisis, let’s be people of prayer. This crisis is bigger than any of us. But God is greater. So we need not be fearful – in the end we can be people of hope, as we become people of prayer: because there is a good future for us, beyond this, a good future that God holds out for us all. And as this virus is no respecter of borders, I’m going to close with a prayer written by our neighbour, Bishop Robert, Bishop of Exeter. If you’d like to, do pray with me now: Keep us good Lord under the shadow of your mercy, in this time of uncertainty and distress. Sustain and support the anxious and fearful, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may rejoice in your comfort, knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen And may God bless us all.

Recycling for Charity update.


We feel the responsible action is to stop collecting the recycling for now. We dont want to touch your items! and dont want to risk passing on any germs or virus. Please sort your items carefully going forward….. as we still dont want to touch your items and with the backlog we wont have the time to sort so will just bin any bag that doesn’t look sorted.

By sorted we mean, putting like items together that then are boxed separately to be sent to Terracycle, If you cant do this just dont bother leaving the items . If you drop off where there are marked bins, it should be self explanatory otherwise here’s what we accept.

1. Empty Crisps packets, shaken out, no need to wash, all size packets, including multiply packs and all brands .

2. Nuts, pretzels, popcorn, pork scratchings all brands plus Pringles brand only, the whole thing including the plastic and foil lid. Plus Stretchy bread bags from sliced bread only.

3. Biscuit, crackers and cakes wrappers. Mini Cheddars, Mini Rolls, Ryvita, Rice Cakes, Hot cross buns, Jaffa cakes, Rocky include multipacks

4. Sweets and chocolates wrappers, individual and bags, no trays, foil or paper

5. Clean dry bagged pet pouches plus all pets food teats and plastic biscuit bags

6. Used toothbrushes, electric heads, toothpaste tubes (no pumps) and dental floss containers .

7. Flexible tubes from creams, gels, ointments, lotions . Hand moisturizers . All Plastic from hair dye kits. Lipsticks, lip balms, lip gloss, mascaras, eye shadow compacts.

8. Triggers and hand pumps off bottles. plastic Roll on deodorants no glass, personal care cleaning wipes packets. If it has baby wipes written on the packet we can not accept them.

9. Home cleaning wipes packets, Dishwasher tablet packs, plastic air fresheners.

10. Empty Baby food pouches with lids all brands and baby snacks like Ella’s , Goodies…

IF IT’S NOT ON THIS LIST, WE CANT ACCEPT IT.

Stoke Climsland Free Concert


On Saturday 25th April, the Callington Singers will be giving a free concert in Stoke Climsland Church. The concert will incorporate lots of joyful music under the general theme of the coming of summer. The programme will include Vivaldi’s Magnificat, along with some madrigals, the Hallelujah Chorus and an original setting of the Jubilate, composed by our new Musical Director, Andrew Wilson. The Callington Singers has a long tradition of making music freely accessible to the community. It is our policy to strive, wherever possible, to give concerts completely free of charge. This is not always practical, as there are many expenses to cover, such as venue hire, publicity and the fees of hired musicians. The choir rely on a retiring collection after each concert to cover these costs. We are very pleased to be working again with Stoke Climsland Parish Church. The Callington Cluster (incorporating churches in Stoke Climsland, Linkinhorne, Callington and South Hill) have the admirable policy of hiring out these churches free of charge, which makes our job of providing free music very much easier.

The free venue and delightful surroundings are not the only reason we are pleased to be performing in Stoke Climsland church again. We also enjoy performing there as an unofficial honour to an important character from Stoke Climsland’s past, who strived as we do, to provide music in his community and who would be familiar with most of the music we are to perform on this occasion; namely Thomas Calvert, gentleman of Stoke Climsland. The impressive memorial to Thomas Calvert appears prominently in the foyer of Stoke Climsland Church: In Memory of Mr Thomas Calvert Late of this parish who in the year 1746 First introduced into this Church four part Psalmody and with Indefatigable Pains and perseverance not only encouraged but in a great measure supported it with great Reputation upwards of 30 years He Was an Honest Man a Kind Master a Sincere Friend And a good Christian He departed this life at Plymouth on June 3rd 1781 in the 71st year of his Age. Although described as being ‘of the parish of Stoke Climsland’, Thomas Calvert was born in Moor Monkton, just outside of York. He was the firstborn son of Joseph and Elizabeth Calvert (née Hunter) and was baptised on the 18th August 1710. How he came to be a pillar of the Stoke Climsland community is a complete mystery. He married a local girl, but had no children. He was employed as Coroner for Cornwall in 1756 and retired from this post in 1776. He spent his last months living in St. Germans (where he made his will) and he was buried in Stoke Climsland churchyard.

His contribution to village life is undeniable. Mr. Calvert’s promotion of four part psalmody singing reflects the growing popularity, at this period, of incorporating music into church services and we owe him a debt of gratitude for the continuing tradition of choral singing which is enjoyed in this country. The ‘Indefatigable Pains and Perseverance’ which are quoted on Thomas Calvert’s memorial stone are aptly illustrated here in a transcript of an extract from the Vestry minutes of Stoke Climsland. Any modern Musical Director will doubtless recognise the inherent challenges facing him. Vestry Minutes from 28th of November 1773: A Letter was read from Mr Thomas Calvert, setting forth the disappointments he has meet [sic] with in his frequent Attendance on the Singing owing to irregularity & Refractioness of many of the numbers, and Declaring that he wou’d not think of Attending many more unless the whole Body wou’d enter into an Obligation Consisting of Several Conditions which he propos’d for the better keeping up & bringing to perfec[ti]on & carrying on with Psalmody to the promotion of Religion and Harmony [in] the Performers; Observing at the same time however that the Parishioners who were the Singers had been at much trouble in Learning & many of them were put to Inconvenience by their Attendance & moreover that few or none has Books & others in general very bad; Proposing therefore as an Encouragement & Countenance to those who wou’d enter into & sign an Association to continue & practice the singing for three years, that the Parish at Large should contribute something towards purchasing proper Books, & defraying other Expenses, in which He, Mr Calvert wou’d also contribute & Mr & Mrs Call had also promis’d. The Members of the Vestry taking the premises with Consideration & being sensible of Mr Calverts Obliging Attendance & Trouble for many years, in promoting & assisting the singing & in doing many other Beneficial Acts to the Church, Do unanimously Agree, that the sum of Six Guineas out of the Church Rates be allow’d from Xmas 1773 to Xmas 1774 to be paid to Mr Calvert by the Churchwardens & laid out by him as he judges may best promote the good order, regularity & continuation of Psalmody, provided that the singers will all enter into such a Bond as he proposes, this contribution to be for one year only at this expiration of which the Parishioners will Continue or revoke it as they See it has Promoted, or Disappointed the End Propos’d.

We sincerely hope that Thomas Calvert would approve and enjoy this upcoming concert, as we also hope you will. Stoke Climsland church will shortly undergo a major refurbishment of the church roof, which we hope will go forward without a hitch. Come and help us raise the roof before it is repaired by joining us for a splendid evening of music on 25th April at 7pm.