St Mary's Parish Magazine November 2026
44 pages · tap a page to read its text
Page 4 - From the Minister’s desk Page 5 - From the Editor’s Desk Page 6 - Jim Collins - The Addington Blacksmith Page 9 - One day of Remembrance - Two Military Burials Page 10 - More memories – Sunday School Hymns and Choruses Page 10 - Thought for the Month Page 11 - From the Parish Registers and Prayer List Page 12 - Bible Readings and Prayers (Collects) Page 15 - A Crisis Averted – Or Is It? Page 16 - Naming our Church Bells Page 17 - My Journey to Becoming Commissioned Pastoral Lay Minister Page 20 - Why Read the Bible? Page 21 - Childhood Hymns Revisited Page 22 - Charity of the Month Page 24 - Children’s Page Page 25 - My Little Friend Poem Page 26 - Our Chosen Group Page 26 - Copy Deadline Page 27 - Do you remember? Page 28 - Memories Revived by Daisies and Elephants! Page 32 - How much do you know-vember? Page 35 - The Simple Pleasures of Childhood Page 38 - St Mary’s Mothers’ Union Page 39 - Tree of the Month Page 41 - Croydon Airport Page 44 - The Parish of St Mary’s Addington Map
St.Mary’s aims are Worshipping God and Loving our Neighbour.
St Mary’s Website. www.addington.org.uk Please see our Church website. It is interesting and informative. There is a potted history of St. Mary’s, details of many different groups within the church, the Hall Development Fund raising, other activities and forthcoming events.
Church Hall Hire https://addington.org.uk/hall-hire Parish Office Email: [email protected] Phone: 01689 842 167
The Clocks have gone forward and already it feels as if we have entered a different season. Days are shorter and the attraction of keeping warm and snug inside is very appealing. The secular world is already preparing to turn on Christmas lights at the beginning of November and shops are encouraging us to buy mince pies and festive treats already. Do keep an eye on friends or family who might find this time of year difficult and let Barbara or I know if anyone would like a visit.
Here in church this month, we start by reflecting on Remembrance, in our All Souls service where we read out the names of those who are no longer physically with us and then our Act of Remembrance on 8th November when we will gather at our War memorial and remember over one hundred local men who went to war and many who did not return. The remaining Sundays in November focus on the coming of God’s Kingdom on earth with the Feast of Christ the King on 22nd November and then the first Sunday of Advent on 29th.
On Advent Sunday in the evening, we will hold our Advent Carol service, a musical and biblical journey from darkness to light to mark the beginning of a new Church year and four weeks of preparation for the coming of the Christ child
The church will also be beginning a journey on 9th November as workmen start to replace the lighting in church and over six weeks until 18th December, we will journey through darkness and temporary lighting to a well-lit church with sustainable lights that will illuminate major features better and allow us to control the lights more easily to enhance our worship. Please bear with us during this time, The church will not be open during the week between 8am-4pm so some adjustments may need to be made in the short term.
Love and prayers Lindsay Reader
Since Revd Debbie’s retirement, we have been looking for a new Vicar and put together our Parish Profile over the summer and advertised during September and early October. We had some interest but sadly we were not able to appoint from the candidates and so the PCC will be meeting again on 23rd November with the Archdeacon to refocus the profile and to agree a timeline for re-advertising. This means our vacancy will be longer than we hoped and we are very grateful to local clergy who have stepped in to take some of our services and support Barbara, Lindsay and the congregation. Many thanks also to all who have taken on additional roles over the last six months.
If you are reading this, then by some miracle and help from Penny in the Parish Office, a November magazine has somehow been created. As mentioned in the October issue, my platform for producing the magazine, namely Microsoft Publisher and its support have been withdrawn.
Unfortunately my set up here, prevents me from accessing the system as I have for the past 11 years or so, but fortunately Publisher can (at present) still be accessed in the Parish Office. I apologise for the delay in getting the magazine printed and in some cases for a different presentation of some of the articles.
Enough of that, and with a sense of relief I can fill you in with what can be found in this issue. Do you fancy a journey, if you do, then follow Diane on her road to becoming a Commissioned Pastoral Lay Minister and her joy and happiness at completing two years of study. There seems to be a lot of reminiscing in this month’s issue, from Sunday School Hymns and Childhood Hymns, through a memory test (Do you remember) to the simple pleasures of years gone by. I must admit when reading these I did begin to feel my age, hopefully you will not be put off by this admission. You may however feel younger when you read of the activities of the “Chosen” group of young folks. When you walk by the Church and the bells are ringing, have you ever considered if the bells have names, some suggestions for our six bells can be found in this issue, but I am informed by a bell ringer of many years (that will be Sheila) that some of the bells are already named. There are plenty of other pieces and articles to be enjoyed in this issue, among them is a timely reminder that November is a month of Remembrance. Hopefully the work of preparing the magazine will get better and this month is just a “blip” but it has made me seriously to consider that the time has come to step away and hand over the reins (or blue pencils) to a fresh set of eyes and computer knowledge.
Eddy Torr
Jim died on 6th October aged 91 and his funeral will be held in church on 9th November at 11am
His daughter Marian has written about his life:
Jim was born on the 13thSeptember 1935 to Edward and Mabel Collins and had two sisters, Margery and Dorothy. They moved from London Road to Woodside and then in 1942, lived in a flat above a shop at the bottom of Crossways. Some of you may remember Chapmans Bike Shop, then a Toy Shop and now it is a Chinese Takeaway. Soon after they arrived, a large piano was delivered. Both parents played and his sisters had lessons whilst Jim taught himself to play by ear.
During the War, Edward, a skilled lathe worker made munitions in the coach houses behind the Cricketers Inn, making bomb casings, aeroplane and gun parts. He had 16 ladies from the village working with him during the day and at night the local policemen and firemen carried on the work. The back seat of the car was removed with Jim’s help so the finished parts could be transported to the munitions store at Dees in Croydon.
Continued ...
Jim went to Addington Village School, next to the forge at the bottom of Spout Hill. He met his best friend there, Bill Hubbard whose father was the verger at St Mary’s. Bill lived in a cottage called Meadow View, now under the roundabout at the start of Kent Gate Way. It was surrounded by farms and fields, greenhouses, vegetable patches and haystacks. Jim spent a lot of time climbing tall trees with Bill, collecting birds’ eggs and he remembered Bill’s father selling vegetables and eggs after church on a Sunday.
Jim had great trouble with his eyesight at school and one day he was caught using binoculars to read the board. He was given some glasses which helped but he always hid them from other children. He only paid attention when the teacher talked about music and it became one of his great interests.
After the war Jim’s dad sold the flat and shop, bought a house in Crossways and began renting the forge from Mr Still who ran Addington Farm. Jim often saw cows walking through the village back to the fields and remembered goats and chickens in the garden. There was a hay field opposite the house, and the children would play hide and seek around the stacks. There was plenty of work for the forge maintaining farm machinery and Jim and his dad would often go to the White Bear pub where the farmers gathered, to find out if they needed any repairs.
Jim moved to secondary school in New Addington, taught in a prefabricated concrete structure, nicknamed ‘Cowshed College’. He was already helping his dad at the forge, learning ironwork skills and at 15 he left school to work full time at the forge as a blacksmith. He acquired a motorbike at 16 but ended up having a very bad accident and was unconscious in hospital for a few days. He decided that a car would be a better option and bought a royal blue Austin 7 called Tallulah and all the family got involved in trying to repair and recover the damaged fold down canvas roof with parachute material.
Jim was encouraged to join the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, a 3-year posting rather than the standard 2 years National Service. His father wanted him to learn welding which he knew would be a very valuable skill once he returned home. Jim was first sent to Korea, then a short visit to Japan before spending most of his posting in Hong Kong. He learnt a trade during those years but probably spent much more of his time playing the piano to entertain the troops. His return home coincided with the Suez Canal crisis and so his journey turned into a 6-week cruise on a troop ship around The Cape of Good Hope as there was no other way back. He entertained the men on the piano every day and he returned home a talented musician. He then decided to move on from the piano, buying an electric organ which he set up in the family’s garage, powered by a vacuum cleaner motor.
Continued ...
Jim returned to working full time at the forge and met his future wife Christine in a coffee shop in South Croydon when he was 22 and she was 18. For the next 3 years he visited her every Sunday whilst she was at Reading University and took great care of her mother who was recently widowed. He also had a job playing the accordion in the Selsdon Park Hotel.
Jim and Chris were able to buy a dilapidated house in Teevan Road in Addiscombe and, before they married at St Mary’s in April 1963, they spent many months gutting and renovating it which they both really enjoyed. Their daughters Marian and Paula were born in 1965 and 1967 and then the family moved back closer to the village, buying a house in Gravel Hill in 1969. Jim worked at the forge for 6 days a week including a half day on a Saturday. He made ornamental ironwork including gates, railings and brackets for the council flower baskets and his work is still in evidence all around Croydon. He enjoyed buying and selling organs and keyboards and was always trading them in for the latest model. He could also build a pretty good speaker cabinet. He regularly played the organ at home as well as working a couple of nights each week playing keyboard in several different bands in the local area from the 1960’s to the 1990’s. He also played as part of a band on a German River Cruise Ship each year during the early 2000’s.
Jim really enjoyed seaside holidays in Devon and Cornwall and in 1976 bought his first inflatable rowing boat. This was so popular with the family that in 1978 he bought a dinghy with an outboard motor. There were many happy times spent on different holidays with the family setting out to sea or up a river with no life jackets or flares or any possible clue that it could all end very badly. Fortunately, it never did. A series of more powerful outboards and dinghies followed which the family greatly enjoyed including his granddaughter Vicki who was born in 1990.
Jim semi-retired around the year 2000 and he and Chris set off to enjoy travelling the world on many cruises and rail trips. He thoroughly enjoyed exploring America and particularly liked the buildings in New York. They saw Canada, Australia and New Zealand and ports in many different countries around the Mediterranean whilst on their cruises. If he ever saw a piano on these trips, he would always attempt to have a play for everyone, and people always enjoyed listening to him. He was lucky enough to be able to go back and visit Hong Kong during one of these holidays and managed to show Chris the area where he had done his National Service.
He continued going down to The Forge to do little jobs and visit Ben, who had now taken over the business, up until he was 88 years old. He loved his Warner Break Holidays and a cruise each year and was still partial to a glass of wine and a nice dessert. He became unwell in 2025 and during his treatment his family managed to keep him at home almost to the end of his life and this brings them great comfort.
Jim would help anyone and often did; he will be greatly missed.
ONE DAY OF REMEMBRANCE – TWO MILITARY BURIALS.
On November 11th we remember the many military personnel who died in WW2. On that day, many memorial services around the U.K. are held, with the most well-known being at Westminster Abbey, where the randomly chosen body of a soldier was buried as a representative of all those others who had died defending their country. We offer prayers of thanks for their dedication to the cause and thanks to God for victory. On November 11th 397 A.D. a soldier, Martin, was buried at Tours, not only a soldier but as a man described by his friend Sulpicius Severus had written about him, miracle-worker in life and after death, a healer of lepers, his prayerful life as a follower of Christ, as a monk and monastery builder, aiming to reach and convert the people in rural areas, his involvement in doctrinal dispute, and as Bishop of Tours for twenty-five years! In old age, Martin knew his life was coming to and, and so did his close friends who begged him not to leave the. In answer he prayed, 'Lord, if you still need me, I do not refuse the work; but let your will be done'. So how did an unwilling young man follow his father, a pagan officer in the Roman army, realise his dream to be a Christian? After leaving prison where he was sent for protesting, as a Christian, for being forced to fight, he was riding along the road in Amiens, when he saw someone on the ground. It was an almost naked man shivering and srarving. At once, Martin jumped down from his horse, drew his sword and cut his warm cloak in two, wrapping the poor man in one half. Afterwards he had a dream in which Christ appeared to him, wearing the cloak he had given away! That was the turning point in his life. So began his Christian ministry. Many artists have depicted the scene of St. Martin dividing his cloak, and many churches bear his name or have stained glass windows telling his story. In France there are 500 villages and 4,ooo parish churches dedicated to him and in England also he was patron of churches; by 1,800 173 ancient churches were dedicated to him. His name was given to a fine spell of good weather around his feast day, November 11th, St. Martin's Summer! On November 11th, let us remember with gratitude those who fought against the evils of hatred and greed, and/ or for the Kingdom of God.
I will make you fishers of men
What a friend we have in Jesus
To understand who you really are, it’s essential to connect to your inner self.
BIRTHDAYS th
If you would like your birthday included in the magazine please let me know. Phil Davison, Editor It is open to all ages
Reece Ingram and Michelle Meekx Albi, Paddy and Hallie Howard, Harley Brind
FUNERALS + We commend to God’s loving care + rd
Interment of ashes: 31 October - Michael North, Joyce Anderson + May they rest in Peace and rise in Glory +
In the absence of the weekly “Pews news” a prayer list has been created and you are kindly asked to hold the following in your Thoughts and Prayers.
Prayer List We especially pray for ;- Patrick Opaleye, Bruno Gentilella, Jean Parker, Ruth and Tony, Lyn Docherty, Baby Poppy Barry, Peter Crowe, Peter, Jan & Tony Hughes, Sandeep, Baby Frankie, Phil Stevens, Eilian Williams, Ekaete, Nick Pannell, Doris Pratt, Rex Millen, Mary Morrison, Monty & Eddie, Diana Andrews, Pat Baker, Eli and Margaret May God grant healing, wholeness and comfort to all who suffer, and give strength and compassion to all who care for them.
We commend to the loving mercy of God Jim Collins
Linus Martin pray for those who mourn them
Silence and stillness, times for reflection and meditation, and a moment within each day to offer our prayers and concerns to God for ourselves, our community and our world are vital if we are to sustain our busy and active lives. Try to find space at the same time each day to be with God by yourself, just for five or ten minutes. You might like to follow this simple daily routine:
PRAYERS Anything that has struck you from reading For your own family and friends and your own concerns For our neighbourhood and world From the lists within these pages Prayer of week The Lord’s Prayer
BIBLE READINGS Look up one or both Bible readings. the reading Silence and quietness It is good sometimes to know that when you pray, especially if you are on your own, others in the parish are praying with you. If you pray at 8.30am, 5pm or 8pm then others will almost certainly be praying too.
1st November – All Saints Day Prayer: Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: grant us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living that we may come to those inexpressible joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Readings: Revelation 7.9-end / Psalm 34.1-10 / 1 John 3.1-3 / Matthew 5.1-12
November – Remembrance Sunday Prayer: Almighty Father, whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of all: govern the hearts and minds of those in authority, and bring the families of the nations, divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin, to be subject to his just and gentle rule; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Readings: Revelation 7.9-end / Psalm 34.1-10 / 1 John 3.1-3 / Matthew 5.1-12 th
November – The second Sunday before Advent Prayer: Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son was revealed to destroy the works of the devil and to make us the children of God and heirs of eternal life: grant that we, having this hope, may purify ourselves even as he is pure; that when he shall appear in power and great glory we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Readings: Zephaniah 1.7, 12–end / Psalm 90.1–8 / 1 Thessalonians 5.1–11 / Matthew 25.14–30 nd
November – Christ the King Prayer: Eternal Father, whose Son Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of heaven that he might rule over all things as Lord and King: keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit and in the bond of peace, and bring the whole created order to worship at his feet; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Readings: Ezekiel 34: 11-16,20-24 / Psalm 95: 1-7 / Ephesians 1: 15-end / Matthew 25: 31- end
November – The First Sunday of Advent Prayer:Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and to put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility; that on the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Readings: 29/11/26 Isaiah 64:1-9 / Psalm 80: 1-8, 18-20 / 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 / Mark 13: 24-end
A Crisis Averted – Or Is It?
I was relieved to read that the more grandiose elements of the hall development plan have been abandoned and that the thinking is now in tune with the original suggestion, made many years ago, that kitchen and toilet improvements are the priority.
On at least two occasions I have written articles for this magazine pointing out the folly of the original plan and have also challenged it at parish meetings.
To suggest that an ageing, and diminishing, congregation could raise the sum of £1.2 million with no appreciable assets, either in terms of money or saleable land or buildings, was unrealistic. So was the idea of match funding as the rate at which we could raise funds, and the amount being raised at each attempt, was pathetically small.
We were told, at some point in the proceedings, that we had a member of the congregation who had had experience in this field but it transpired that this was linked to a small- scale project. Had we had a brace of investment bankers, a hedge-fund manager, an architect, a solicitor and the boss of a construction firm in the congregation things might have been different
My objections to the plan were based on all of the above but, more crucially, because I had been involved in a similar situation many years earlier when I was warden of St. Margarets’ Church in Upper Norwood. It was decided that we would install a mezzanine floor in the church and thought that we had enough cash to fulfil the project but the architects kept insisting on this survey being done and that improvement considered until we ran out of cash and abandoned the project. The only winners were the architects.
Does that sound familiar? Tens of thousands of pounds have been spent on architects’ fees in relation to the current project.
Now my question is this. Why was this project not halted before too much financial damage was done? Why didn’t someone in the Dioscesen Office query the plan. Surely the treasurer was aware of St. Mary’s resources, attendance records and earnings potential.
And why didn’t those members of the PCC who had doubts about the scheme’s viability object? Or perhaps they did object and were either overruled or ignored. I don’t know how the PCC operates because a) I am not a member and b) it seems to me that very little news of PCC deliberations and decisions filters down to members of the congregation.
Continued ...
I don’t know if the system still pertains but in the Dark Ages when I was a warden there was a vicar’s warden and a people’s warden, the one who represented the views of the vicar and the other who spoke on behalf of the people, so both sides had a voice and their views were represented. Had the objectors to the hall scheme been better represented perhaps things would have been different.
St. Mary’s church will soon (?) be under new management. Let’s hope that the clergy, parish officers, the various committees and members of the congregation will be kept fully informed of plans for the churches’ future be they large or small. And if something displeases you don’t be afraid to make your feelings known.
A final thought. The plan could have succeeded if a bold decision had been made to sell the church building and develop the hall as a modern worship and social centre. How much more attractive that would be than to worship in the current gloomy building. The naysayers told me that it couldn’t be done but England is bursting with churches which have been re-purposed. So, if someone wants Phoenix to rise from the ashes……..
Chris Seaman
I found Philippa’s article asking suggestions for naming our church bells interesting. May I suggest the following. As our church has six bells, could each be named after the six archbishops who had a connection to our church, five of whom are buried there: namely…
Charles Manners-Sutton John Bird Sumner Charles Thomas Longley William Howley Edward White Benson Archibald Campbell Tait, Their surnames could be used or perhaps, more informally, their Christian names with the two bells named Charles being Charles 1 and Charles 2. However, my favourite would be to use the shortened form of their Christian names:
Chas 1 John Chas 2 Tom Archie Bill and Eddy
Yes, I think that could catch on. How about it bellringers? Peter Bourne
Over the past two years, I have been training to become a Commissioned Pastoral Lay Minister. It has been a journey of learning, reflection, personal growth and, most importantly, a deepening of my faith.
During the first year, I completed the Bishop’s Certificate. The main focus was on the Old Testament, the New Testament and developing our academic writing skills. We were required to complete four written assignments, each of 1,500 words, which had to be submitted and signed off. I successfully completed all four assignments and passed the Bishop’s Certificate.
Following this, I attended a selection process at Trinity House, where we were interviewed. Having successfully passed the selection process, we were accepted onto the second year of training for Commissioned Pastoral Lay Ministry.
“I can honestly say that I have learned so much. I have developed new skills, grown in confidence and deepened my faith. “
The second year was more practical and focused on preparing us for the realities of ministry.
There were four main components to our training: Biblical and Theological Foundations, Pastoral Ministry Themes and Skills, Pastoral Experiences, and Reflective Practice.
Each of these components helped us develop our understanding of ministry, strengthen our skills and prepare us for the responsibilities we would be taking on.
Continued ...
As part of our training, we were encouraged to explore different areas of ministry, including visiting hospitals and prisons. These experiences gave us opportunities to learn about areas of ministry with which we might not have been familiar. They also helped us discover where our own gifts, interests and sense of vocation might lead us.
An important part of the course was reflective practice. We were encouraged to think carefully about our experiences, reflect on what we had done and consider what we could learn from them. We did this by keeping a journal, attending regular group meetings with a facilitator, and meeting with a spiritual director who supported us in reflecting on our faith and ministry.
We were also expected to attend all the course sessions because learning from one another was such an important part of the experience. We attended retreats at [confirm retreat venue name], which gave us further opportunities for reflection, prayer and spiritual development.
Throughout the year, we completed a number of assignments. The emphasis was not simply on writing academic essays, but on maximising our learning and applying what we had learned to practical situations.
One of the main pieces of work towards the end of the course was preparing a parish profile. This involved getting to know our parish more deeply, understanding the local community and exploring the needs of the neighbourhood. We looked at how we could present our parish, its people, its activities and its surrounding community, using information and visual material, such as a map, to help others understand the area.
The parish profile was an important opportunity to bring together the knowledge and skills we had gained during the course. We presented our work at Trinity House to family and friends who came to support us.
We were also required to complete a placement of between 20 and 40 hours before the course finished, around June. The purpose of these placements was to broaden our experience beyond our own parish, explore different opportunities for ministry, develop our skills and learn more about the work of other organisations and agencies.
Looking back over these two years, I can honestly say that I have learned so much. I have developed new skills, grown in confidence and deepened my faith. I have also gained a much greater understanding of the Church, including how it is run, the different groups within it, the meetings that take place and the responsibilities involved in serving the Church.
Continued ...
One of the most important things I have learned about is safeguarding. This is such a vital part of ministry because it is about protecting people, caring for their wellbeing and ensuring that everyone is treated with dignity, respect and compassion.
Above all, it has been an honour to learn alongside other people from the Church. Sharing our experiences, supporting one another and learning together has been a very special part of this journey.
I would particularly like to thank Carol Crosslet, who led the course. She was an excellent leader, and I thoroughly enjoyed taking part in all the activities and learning opportunities she provided.
Throughout this journey, I have increasingly felt that this is my calling. Having attended church for many years, I have always felt a connection to my faith, but this training has helped me understand more clearly how I can put that faith into practice by serving others.
I would also like to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has helped and encouraged me along the way.
In particular, I want to thank Lindsay, who has been such a wonderful support and has helped me immensely. Thank you, Lindsay, for everything you have done for me.
To everyone who has encouraged me, supported me, prayed for me and wished me well, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I feel truly blessed to have had this opportunity, and I am grateful to God for guiding me throughout these two years.
As I look forward to the next chapter of my journey, I do so with faith, gratitude and a willingness to continue learning, growing and serving others.
Thank you, everyone. Diane Foster
Why Read the Bible?
There are many people who have never read the Bible. They have their own reasons, of course, but as am writing this on Bible Sunday, I thought I would submit the following anonymous reasons for doing so.
The Bible contains: the mind of God the state of man the way of salvation and the happiness of believers light to direct food to nurture comfort to cheer. It is: the traveller's map the pilgrim's staff the pilot's compass the soldiers sword and the Christian's Charter. It is: the mine of wealth a paradise of glory and a river of pleasure. Its doctrines are holy. Its precepts are binding. Its histories are true. Its wisdom is immutable. It should rule the heart,. fill the mind and guide the feet. It is given to us in life, will be opened at the Judgement, and is the Word of God that stands for ever.
The King James Bible, or authorized version, was completed in 1611 when Shakespeare was aged 46. Psalm 46 is intriguing for its 46th word is 'shake' and 46th word before the end we find the word 'spear'. So, Shakespeare may have had a hand in the translation of the King James Bible, but this tenuous link is the only indication of it! submitted by P.M.
In October’s issue of this magazine I wrote about the hymn ‘Daisies Are our Silver, Buttercups our Gold.’ Following on from that here is another hymn I sung in infant school in the late 1950s that came to mind following that article. Sadly, it too isn’t heard in infant assemblies nowadays. Glad That I Live Am I Glad that I live am I, That the sky is blue; Glad for the country lanes, And the fall of dew. After the sun the rain, After the rain the sun. This is the way of life, Till the work be done. All that we need to do, Be we low or high: Is to see that we grow Nearer the sky. Like the words of ‘Daisies are our Silver’ this hymn also gives thanks to God for nature’s beauty and the miracle of being alive to appreciate it. It expresses gratitude for life and its simple pleasures. The second verse emphasises the cyclical nature of weather and the seasons, bringing to mind farmers crops dependent on the sun and rain. The farmer’s work isn’t finished until they harvest their crop and then the cycle starts once again. On another level it can apply to you and me, for no matter whether we have good (sunny times) or not such good times (rainy days) we must preserve till our work is finished. The final verse could be taken literally or spiritually. Spiritually, it doesn’t matter our status in life (‘be it low or high’) our most important objective is to grow closer to God (‘to see that we grow nearer the sky’). I’d be interested to know if you remember singing this hymn over coffee in the church hall. Maybe you could write an article about it for the next magazine.
Peter Bourne
From January to April 2026, Croydon Voluntary Action worked alongside Housing Justice, Croydon Council, and a steering group of local faith and community organisations to deliver the Croydon Together Night Shelter.
The shelter provided a safe, welcoming place for people experiencing homelessness during the coldest months of the year. Each night, between 18 and 20 guests accessed a warm bed, hot meals, shower facilities and person-centred support designed to help them build on their strengths and take positive steps towards longer-term stability.
The project was made possible through the collective efforts of local organisations, volunteers, funders and donors. We were particularly grateful for the generous support received from local businesses and organisations, including IKEA Croydon and HMRC, whose contributions helped create a comfortable and dignified environment for our guests.
Over the course of four months, the shelter demonstrated the power of partnership working in responding to homelessness within our borough. By bringing together statutory services, voluntary organisations and local communities, we were able to provide practical support, connection and hope to some of Croydon's most vulnerable residents.
Continued ...
Working together to help end homelessness in Croydon Daniel believed in God, but King Darius didn’t. He passed a law saying that anyone who prayed to God would be put in a den of lions. The lions would then eat that person. Daniel was put in with the lions all night. He prayed to God who sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions, so that they could not eat Daniel. In the morning King Darius was surprised to see Daniel alive. As a result of this Darius passed another law saying everyone must worship Daniel’s God.
1= brown 2= blue 3= green 4= yellow 5= grey 6 = red
Page designed by Peter Bourne
My Little Friend I’ve got a little friend I play with every night, When I’m in bed and all alone We have a pillow fight.
My little friend’s invisible – He isn’t really there, But I haven’t got a brother And I don’t think that is fair!
The other night when mum was out I asked him round to play. We had such fun together I said that he could stay.
When my little friend gets hungry He leaves wrappers on the floor And sticky sweets on the carpet –
I felt unwell the other day So I couldn’t go to school. My little friend, he found my crayons And scribbled on my wall.
He tore the pages out my book And threw them in my bin. “What did you do that for?” mum said, “Just wait till your father gets in!”
When dad got home from work, He was very cross with me. He sent me to my bedroom And I couldn’t have my tea.
My little friend, he found my toys Because he wanted to play, But I got told off next morning As he didn’t put them away.
He left my Lego on the floor, Mum trod on it in bare feet. She wasn’t very happy, And said something I can’t repeat!
One night when I was sent to bed He got my drum kit out, But he had to stop the banging When my mum gave me a shout.
My little friend had fun last night, After I had gone to bed. He jumped up and down on my mattress And cracked the ceiling with his head.
My little friend has gone away So I’m very full of grief, But my bedroom’s nice and tidy, And my mum says “What a relief!”
written by Peter Bourne
Our Chosen group, for young people in Year 6 and above, meets on the second Sunday of each month for an evening of fun, friendship and faith.
The young people help shape the programme by suggesting activities they would enjoy, making each gathering something to look forward to. There is the chance to play badminton or shoot a few hoops before the evening’s activities begin.
Each month brings something different. Last month, the group enjoyed making bread, while this month they got creative with a painting session. These activities provide a wonderful opportunity to try something different and spend time together.
Alongside the fun, there is also time to reflect on faith. We recap the Gospel reading from the morning’s service, which gives everyone the opportunity to share their thoughts, ask questions and explore what the message might mean in our everyday lives.
Of course, no evening would be complete without food! We round off our time together with everyone enjoying pizza and juice.
We look forward to our next meeting when we'll be decorating cup cakes. Judy Van Selm
Copy Deadlines You may find it useful to know the deadlines for the next edition, in order to plan ahead:
Copy date for the December magazine 23rd November 2026 Please e-mail your contributions to Phil at [email protected]
Do you remember?
Fish and chips wrapped in newspaper. Glass bottles with a refundable deposit. 78 rpm records. Party telephone lines. Milk delivered in glass bottles. Television in black and white only. Bobbies on the beat. The coalman delivering your coal in sacks. Shilling-in-the-slot gas and electricity meters. Your G.P. making home visits. Television rental services. Scouts and Guides ‘bob-a-job’ week. Usherettes in the cinema Conductors on buses.
MEMORIES REVIVED by Daisies and Elephants!
Thank you, Peter, for reminding me of my primary school days in Yorkshire in 1940, when we had 'Assembly' every day! I didn't care much for the talking bit, but I did enjoy the singing, which frequently included 'Daisies are our silver.' We also sang:
Jesus, friend of little children, be a friend to me; take my hand and ever keep me close to thee.
Teach me how to grow in goodness daily as I grow; thou hast been a child, and surely thou dost know.
Step by step, O lead me onward, upward into youth; wiser, stronger, still becoming in thy truth.
Never leave me nor forsake me, ever be my friend, for I need thee from life’s dawning to its end.
We never queried the Thees, Thous and Dost, and nor did my sons and grandchildren when I sang it to them at bedtime!
As for daisy chains, we lived in a big vicarage with a large garden, half grass, where daisies thrived in the summer. The three of us would sit for an hour or two, seeing who could make the longest daisy chain! We also picked the many dandelions for a halfpenny a hundred!
Thank you, Stephen, for your Elephant story, which had a familiar ring to it. During the war, Frank's aunt and uncle lived in Chelmsford, where German P.O.W.s were held in a nearby camp. Aunt and uncle invited two of them to visit their house for a few years and became friends. When they left, Aunt was presented with a Ship in a Bottle, which they had made over the years. We inherited it, and it sits on the bookcase in the sitting room. I am still baffled and in awe by how it was constructed!
Philippa Millington
CROYDON 1, Norfolk House, Wellesley Road, CR0 1LH Tel: 020 8688 1447 or 2003 and SELSDON/SANDERSTEAD 175 Selsdon Park Road, South Croydon CR2 8JJ . Tel: 020 8657 3616 - Chapel of Rest
24- hour service. Free parking in centre of Croydon. Funeral plans www.jbshakespearefunerals.co.uk
Your Local Handyman
Plumbing, Electrical, Carpentry, Garden work, Patios, Jet Washing, Kitchen / Bathroom Installation, Plastering and Flat Packed Furniture Assembly
For a FREE estimate CALL IAN No job too small
How much do you know-vember?
Make a cup of tea, wrap up warm and have a go at my quiz and find out. Good luck.
1. What date in November is All Saints’ Day? (a)1 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 4 st nd
2.‘The Day of the Dead’ is celebrated on 1 and 2 of November in which country? (a) Sweden(b) France (c) Poland (d) Mexico
3. In which year did the Gunpowder Plot take place? (a) 1603 (b) 1604 (c) 1605 (d) 1606
4. In the Southern hemisphere what season is November in?
5. Which orange gemstone is the birthstone for November? (a) carnelian (b) amber (c) topaz (d) Citrine
6. Spell the full name, often shortened to ‘mum, that is the birth flower for November.
7. Which board game was launched by Parker Brothers on November 5 , 1935? (a) Scabble (b) Monopoly (c) Cluedo (d) Risk
8. What does the ‘Novem’ part of the word November mean in Latin? (a) eleven (b) none(c) no (d) nine
9. On what date was the Armistice signed in November 1918?
10. On November 3 , 1957, the Russians launched the first living animal, named Laika, into space in Sputnik 2. What type of animal was Laika? (a) dog (b) cat(c) monkey (d) rat
11. What do Americans celebrate on the fourth Thursday in November?
12. November has two zodiac signs. What are they? (Clue: they both begin with the same letter)
13. What do many men choose to grow in November to raise money for men’s health charities? (a) fingernails (b) hair (c) beard (d) moustache
Continued ...
14. The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run takes place on November 1 from? (a) Regents Park (b) Hyde Park (c) Green Park (d) Battersea Park
15. November 14 is the birthday of King Charles III. How old will he be then? (a) 76 (b) 77(c) 78 (d) 79 th
16. St. Andrew’s Day is on November 30 . He is the patron saint of Scotland. Which of these countries is he NOT a patron saint of? (a) Georgia (b) Ukraine (c) Hungary (d) Poland
Compiled by Peter Bourne
Answers on page 40
Property disputes and planning Probate and Wills Employment matters Tax Planning Commercial matters Business start-up General Legal Advice
Specialist Solicitor with over 35 years experience
Writing my recent article about making daisy chains and holding a buttercup under the chin to see if someone likes butter got me thinking about the other things I did as a child. Lots of pleasure was got using something from something from nature.
One of the popular things we did as boys was playing conkers. I would get my conkers from the ring of horse chestnut trees in Addington Park. After school you would see boys throwing sticks up at the trees to knock down the conkers to put in bags to take home. The best ones had a flat side, known in conker circles as a ‘cheese cutter’. I’d use mum’s meat skewer to make a hole in each one, then thread a length of string through the hole and tie a knot at one end. Some children ‘cheated’ by making their conkers harder soaking them in vinegar, baking them in the oven or coating them in varnish. In school playgrounds all the country you’d see boys playing conkers. If your conker had broken two other conkers, for example, it would be two-er. If your two-er smashes a six-er then your one becomes an eight-er and so on. If your opponent’s conker came off the string but wasn’t broken you were allowed to try and break it by stamping on it whilst repeatedly saying ‘stampees’ as they try to pick up their conker and re-string it.
If you were out with your friends and you picked a dandelion they would say ’wet the bed’ to you. As a child I didn’t know that there was some truth to this saying, as eating dandelion leaves acts as a natural diuretic stimulating the kidneys and increasing the production of urine.
Did you ever tell the time using the seeds from a dandelion? It wasn’t very accurate but it was fun to do. The number of blows to remove all the seeds from the dandelion seed head, called a ‘dandelion clock’ supposedly told you the hour of the day. If you could remove all the seeds with one blow you could make a wish because you had set all the ‘fairies’ free.
Then there were the sycamore and maple seeds, called ‘helicopters.’ If you were on your own you threw one in the air and watched it spin round till it landed. It was great fun with friends when you all threw a ‘helicopter’ in the air. The winner was the one that stayed in the air the longest.
When you came across an oak tree who couldn’t resist looking for the acorn ‘cups’ on the ground? We put them on our fingers pretending each finger was a person. When you bent each finger you pretended they were talking. It was even better if you had a pen to draw a face on each finger.
Continued ...
When you were with friends you could also have acorn fights, simply by picking the acorns up and throwing them at each other. I know I did.
Thinking about it there were quite a lot of things you could throw at others that would attach themselves to woolly jumpers. There are quite a few, such as the small cleavers that would cling to your socks. Burdock seed heads were good because they were quite large.
We used to throw the tops of couch grass to stick in a friend’s woolly jumper. They were like darts. I always thought it was called it goose grass.
Thinking about grass reminds me of picking a blade of grass, holding it vertically and firmly between your thumbs, pressing your lips against the gap between your thumbs and blowing. If you were lucky you would make a sound, a bit like a reed in an oboe.
I used to spend hours looking for a four leafed clover to bring me luck for the rest of that day.
We had antirrhinums in our garden. They were also called ‘snapdragons’ because the flowers looked like dragon heads. If you squeezed each side of a flower in with your finger and thumb it would look like a dragon opening and closing its mouth.
If there was a girl you fancied you would say ‘She loves me’ and ‘She loves me not’ while picking one petal off a daisy for each phrase. The phrase that is said on picking the last petal from the daisy will decide the girl’s affection towards you.
Did you ever make scent by picking rose petals and putting them in water? I used to make it for my mum.
In the 70s when I was teaching, children in my class would come in after play saying someone has put itching power down their necks. I recall asking a child where he got it from. He said the tree in the playground. He pointed to the dangling seed head of a London Plane tree. He said if you pull it apart and put it down someone’s neck it makes them itch. I had never heard of that as a boy, probably because there were no London Plane trees where I grew up.
Did you play any of these games as a child? Are there any things you did with things from nature that I haven’t mentioned? If so, I’d love to hear about them over coffee after the church service. Maybe you could write a follow up article for the next church magazine.
Branch leader Pat Heady Tel: 020 8240 2179 or M: 07970 270704 Email: [email protected]
ST MARY’S ADDINGTON VILLAGE MOTHERS’ UNION
Programme of Events in 2026:
Thursday 5th November 2pm - Musical Charades Wednesday 25th November 6.30pm - Fish and Chips at McDermotts Thursday 3rd December 2pm– Pre Christmas Tea Party Wednesday 30th December 8pm– Christmas Party. Meetings are at 2 The Paddocks unless otherwise stated.
You are all welcome at our meetings.
God our creator, help and guide us to seek you to give us wisdom in our practical actions. Enable us to reflect your abundant hope and love to those we seek to serve. Amen.
On Wednesday 25th November we are meeting up at McDermotts restaurant for our annual meal. You are most welcome to join us. There is a set menu of; cod and chips, apple crumble and ice cream, tea or coffee. The cost is £25 per head, cash on the day. Drinks are available at the bar. You are most welcome to join us. To book a place please contact me at [email protected] or telephone 07970270704. Pat Heady, branch leader.
Hello there, traveller. Stop awhile on your journey and take a rest in the shade under my broad canopy. I was once commonly known as the linden tree which is our true name. Over the years people started to call me the English lime tree. I don’t know why. It is very confusing I’m not related to the true lime tree, the one that gives you green citrus fruits. My fruits are winged and nut-like, but they are not edible.
I am a grand tree that has stood watch over these lands for many years. At 40 metres in height I cast deep, cool shadows below. Very pleasant for people to sit under. I will reach maturity somewhere between 50 and a150 years, which is not a great age for a tree. However, some of ancestors who live in Europe are over 1,000 years old.
As I age, I sprout a wild, tangled skirt of leafy suckers around the gnarled base of my trunk. Woodcarvers, ancient and modern, like my wood for carving as it is not hard to cut.
In autumn my leaves turn from green to a uniform shade of yellow, before I let go of them and watch them as they fall to the ground.
During winter my bare twigs stand out against the grey skies as they glow with a deep red tint.
In summer my leaves are a vibrant shade of green and perfectly shaped like small hearts. During midsummer my yellow-green flowers bloom. As they are very small, they fill the air with a sweet, heavy, honey-like scent to attract the bees. The bees make a lime-flower honey which tastes delicious they tell me and is eaten by you people. Aphids like to nibble my leaves. Unfortunately, after eating them they produce a sticky sap called honeydew. It will cover everything beneath me and is very hard to remove. I’m telling you this so that you can avoid parking your car too close to me.
Aphids like to nibble my leaves. Unfortunately, after eating them they produce a sticky sap called honeydew. It will cover everything beneath me and is very hard to remove. I’m telling you this so that you can avoid parking your car too close to me.
Continued ...
My ancestors have lined grand avenues, have given shade to village greens and have listened to human secrets for generations.
I’m known for reducing anxiety in humans. You can make a herbal tea from my flowers which has a relaxing effect I’m told. I have featured a lot in ancient myths and legends. You people think of me as a symbol of love and fertility. Why? Because of my heart-shaped leaves, of course. It is said that couples who sit under me will have a long and happy relationship.
Even Shakespeare knew this. In his play ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ the fairy queen, Titania, falls in love with Bottom, after he’s been changed into a donkey. The moral of this tale beingdon’t sit under me with a donkey or you might end up marrying the animal!
I bet you didn’t know that we are associated with your Virgin Mary. It’s true. Christians, like you, used to make garlands using my leaves on her feast day. Why don’t you have a go decorating your church on her feast day as I know that your church is named after the Blessed Virgin Mary. If you don’t have a member of my family growing near your church you could make heart-shaped leaves out of paper and paint them bright green. Perhaps you could suggest my idea to the person who organises your ‘Messy Church’ for the children.
Peter Bourne
1.(a) 1st 2. (d) Mexico 3. (c) 1605 4. Spring 5. (c) topaz 6. Chrysanthemum 7. (b) Monopoly 8. (d) nine (November was the ninth month of the year until January and February were added by the Romans) 9. 11th 10. (a) dog 11. Thanksgiving 12. Scorpio and Sagittarius 13. (d) moustache 14. (b) Hyde Park 15. (c) 78 16. (c) Hungary How well did you do? 1 to 6: You should get to know November better 7 to 12: Well done., You can come in from the cold. 13 to 16: Great! You remember November very well.
When I retired from Secondary school teaching in 2002 I started volunteering weekly at the Archives at the old Croydon Airport. They were situated in the former Gatehouse at the time, next to what used to be TGI Fridays. Since then we have had to move three times (including for several years in the former workshop used by the Theatrical props company Scena until that was required for “redevelopment”). We are now based in two rooms at Airport House, a storage room on the ground floor and office cum library on the first floor. These rooms contain hundreds of thousands of items including books, photos, logbooks, memorabilia and artifacts connected with Croydon Airport’s history from the 1920s up to the present day.
Croydon Airport was the main airport for London from 1922 until 1945, and then postwar after Heathrow opened on 1 st January 1946 until 1956 the main airport for charter airlines. From 1956 when the extended Gatwick opened until closure to flying on 30 th September 1959 there were still regular flights, but mainly use by club and executive aircraft. From then until the late 1970s aircraft continued to be overhauled or built at Croydon, but had to be transported in and out by road. I am now the only member of the Archives or indeed Open Day volunteer team who experienced Croydon as a live airport. With our listed building as the world’s first purpose-built Air Terminal and a fine example of the architectural style of the era, we are now the Number 1 visitor attraction in Croydon.
My first visit to Croydon Airport took place in the summer of 1954. During my first year as an aircraft enthusiast as a 12-year old schoolboy, I read in the monthly aircraft magazine “Air Pictorial” that Croydon seemed to have all the “new” Tiger Moths that were coming on to the British civil register. Tiger Moths had been the most numerous training aircraft used by the RAF in the second world war and subsequently, but were now surplus to RAF requirements and were being converted to civil use as private and club aircraft. The long journey to Croydon from my home in Southampton by public transport put me off visiting for some time, but the opportunity of staying with my favourite aunt in Farnham in Surrey during the long summer holidays of 1954 allowed me to get to Croydon at last. Being an honest citizen, I wrote to the Airport Manager at Croydon well in advance of the intended day of my visit to ask permission to “go round and look at all the aircraft”. I received a polite letter back informing me that this was unfortunately not possible, for which reasons I have since forgotten. Not to be beaten, however, I wrote to the owners of the larger number of Tiger Moths and to my pleasant surprise received a very friendly letter back from W A Rollason, informing me that this would indeed be possible and that I should report to the office in their hangar.
For a 12 year old in those days the journey to Croydon on 26 th August was not particularly daunting as I could read maps and also timetables and had travelled to London (Heathrow) several times already. Setting off straight after breakfast from Farnham I caught a bus to the railway station, took the Waterloo train as far as Surbiton, then a local train to Wimbledon and from there another train as far as Waddon. From the scrawled notes in my notebook of the time, the whole journey cost me six shillings & threepence halfpenny (ie just over 30 pence), 5/9d for the return train fare (child’s rate) and 3d for the bus one way plus 3 1/2d the other way (I can’t remember why) to and from Farnham. I decided to walk to Croydon Airport from Waddon and back.
Continued ...
Continued ...
At the airport, I asked in the terminal for the way to Rollasons’ hangar and was pointed in the right direction. On being stopped by a policeman at the Gatehouse, I was allowed to continue after proudly showing him my letter on headed notepaper from Rollasons. Arriving at the hangar, I was shown round by a Mr.Hunt. I then asked if it was okay to wander round all the Tiger Moths parked on the south end of the airfield along the Purley Way (See aerial photo – the Tiger Moths are the lines of white dashes in the top right-hand corner of the image). He replied that that was fine and that I should come back to find him when I had finished. No one accosted me whilst I was walking round the rows and rows of Tiger Moths, and I spent a happy hour wandering round and making notes. Including the Tiger Moths I saw elsewhere on the airfield later that day, my notebook recorded the grand total of 114 of the type!
On arriving back at Rollasons’ hangar, Mr Hunt said that if I wanted to, he would walk over to the “Flight” and “Air Enterprise” hangars at the other end of the airfield with me during his lunch break. I was delighted with this offer of course, and conveniently we had to pass the other charter airline hangars of Transair and Morton/Olley Air Services on the way! I was also shown into a rare type of late 1930s executive aircraft, a Percival Q6, standing on the tarmac (see photo of it in front of Croydon’s iconic control tower). This was the first and only occasion that I ever went inside this type of aircraft. In and around the hangars were dozens of aircraft belonging to the charter airlines, together with some reals gems of vintage aircraft, and all together the total number of aircraft on Croydon Airport that day was over 200.
Mr Hunt accompanied back to the public enclosure, where I stood stunned by the variety and sheer number of aircraft I had seen in the course of my four hour visit. On thanking my kind host, he asked me whether I had thought of going to the factory airfield of de Havilland at Hatfield, as he had a colleague there who could show me round. I had planned to go to Heathrow the following day, but this was an opportunity too good to be missed. Ten minutes and a phone call later, and a complete factory tour of the Comet 2 jetliner and the Vampire/Venom production lines had been arranged for the following morning, but that is another story.
How often could this type of luck happen to a 12 year old aircraft enthusiast today??
Sunday 8.00am Eucharist Common Worship (Order One, in traditional language) Sunday 10.00am The Parish Eucharist and Junior Church 6.30pm Choral Evensong (4th Sunday of the month usually) Tuesday 8pm Said Eucharist VICAR - Parish currently in Vacancy ASSISTANT PRIEST- The Reverend Barbara Gentilella Tel 020 8777 4462