Church Hospitality at its best

Was to be found from the wonderful people of St Vincent's Church, Caythorpe.

As members of a Royal Signals regiment came to celebrate Advent in the same building that members of the Airborne Signals prayed in before they left to drop into Arnhem. It was for us a full circle moment as earlier this year we found ourselves in Arnhem for the 69th anniversary of Operation Market Garden.

A big 'Thank You' to Alison Healy for allowing us use of the building, to Jo (one of the Wardens) and those who came and gave us tea, coffee, mince pies and an extremely warm welcome on a reasonably chilly morning.

And most importantly - to those members of the church who came and took part in the mornings' proceedings (and stayed on to talk and engage so wonderfully with us.

Thank you from all of us and we wish you a blesséd and joyous Adventide and Christmas.

What an amazing week that was

Last week was one of those amazing weeks that blesses your socks off yet leaves you wondering where it went (and how come so much is left to do.

Sunday: Ordination of the Revd. David Short at St Alban's Abbey

The sun shone, the choir sang and heaven rejoiced!

Monday: Staff meeting, business meetings, Kid's Club, Home visits and (yeeha) PCC!

4:28 - the quiet before the storm 

Tuesday: Tamworth Street Angels comes into being with various other meetings and engagements on this, a business and paperwork day.

At last - a dream comes true and we're off!

Wednesday: Funeral visits, Bike Ride to the Wall, Chaplaincy work

Standards of the Royal Signals Association as we remember those who have served

Thursday: Early communion service (more chairs needed yet again), drop-in, boat building (see I do take time off), Air Cadets.

Final stage in the lining out complete!

Friday: Dedication of the new names added to the Armed Force's memorial walls - Fifty-two names were added to the wall this year - dona eis requiem.

A salute by the BBMF's Lancaster
We will remember them

Followed by Kid's Club (now that's a sea change :-) )

One of the many blessings that this church gives to the community

Saturday: Provided PA for a church fete and then on to medicals and recruit training before finally ending the day (19:00) with a barbecue (even more time off!)

Of course there's loads of telephone calls, paperwork and ad hoc meetings that act as the filler in the normal daily run but, all in all, an absolutely fantastic and blessed week

And so - on to a great day with early communion, all-age service, Youth Alpha and BCP evensong to challenge, cause to worship and generally bless.

You know? I couldn't pay enough to be a minister and yet I get to do it for free.

How wonderful is that?

Fern Leaf and Feather: A military History

Earlier this year I had the privilege of meeting an extremely charming chap (and his lovely wife too) who possessed the title 'Master Poulter', the name given to the person at the top of the Worshipful Company of Poulters (which came into existence in 1368), a body that does great charitable works in the today's world.

The Master Poulter came to present a salver to one of the young emerging soldiers (of which in our regiment there are indeed many I'm proud to say) and more than a few of those present that weekend asked me what the connection with the organisation was. So here's a brief history of our association.

Many of you will, I'm sure, be aware that the Shropshire Yeomanry wear, as a battle honour, upon their mess dress a New Zealand silver fern leaf and in cloth form on uniforms too:

This was presented to them by the New Zealanders in recognition of the support given to 2nd New Zealand Division at Cassino, Faenza and the Advance to the Po.

But not many realise that the Royal Signals, and the 36th Signal Regiment in particular through it's heritage with the 44th (Cinque Ports) from whom it came into being, has an interesting heritage which involves poultry and the wearing of a golden feather as it's battle honour:

The reason for this being that upon their return from the Middle East in 1943 the regiment, becoming part of 30 Signal Corps in France, found themselves engaged in pushing the German forces back until they eventually surrendered in 1945 (a date I'm sure we all knew).

As they did this they found themselves caught up in battle outside Blois and it was there that they routed the Germans and 'liberated' one of the largest poultry farms in the country, saving the chickens and workers from almost certain death. The news of this, coming back to the then Master Poulter, spurred them to recognise this act by awarding them a golden feather (as shown above).

But the connection with poultry doesn't end there, for as the end drew nigh and the Germans took to shooting pigeons in the hope that this would stem the traffic of messages reaching England by use of Carrier Pigeons (for communications in all its forms are part of the Royal Signals) some of those working at Bletchley Park hit on the idea that instead of pigeons, which were well-known as a means of message carrying, perhaps they could work with a form of communication as yet untried, the 'homing chicken'.

This project, quite understandably, failed but once again the Royal Signals and the precursor of the 36th in particular, were there at the forefront of communications technology and pushing the envelope.

And this is the reason for such a strong connection with the descendants of the 36th Signal Regiment - now 36 Signal Squadron of the 37th Signal Regiment (V) and it's proud relationship with the Master Poulter and the Worshipful Company of Poulters.

And the history yields a motto to be proud of: 

Ad praesens ova cras pullis sunt meliora*

*Eggs today are better than chickens tomorrow