Audrey Aylmer, stalwart of Bude-Stratton & District Old Cornwall Society, organised another successful Society Advent Service commemorating many ‘carols of old’ from North Cornwall on Monday 1 December. Despite the inclement weather, the service was well attended, and the Reverend Colin Biggs welcomed us warmly to St Martin’s United Reformed Church, Bude.

The singing was led by an ad hoc choir made up of a few Old Cornwall Society members and strongly supported by Bude Choral Society, all under the musical direction of John Hobbs and with the accompaniment of Daffyd Thomas on the organ. A selection of carols arranged by the late Michael J Richardson in his book “Carols of the Stratton Hundred, North Cornwall” were sung. In addition, two, ‘O come O come Emmanuel’ and ‘See amid the winter snow’, were delivered in the Cornish language, albeit set to familiar tunes.

The carols were interspersed with bible readings by Jean Balsden, a fascinating insight into the history of St Martin’s Church given by Barbara Madge, and a poem by Betty Saunders. Alan McIntosh, Chairman Bude-Stratton & District OCS gave thanks for the organisational arrangements and the Revd Biggs closed the service with a prayer and a burst of Cornish! Afterwards welcome refreshments were served.

Bude Inner Wheel decorated a Christmas tree for the Christmas Tree Festival at St Marwenne’s Church in Marhamchurch.

The theme of the tree was “Orange the World” which is a UN backed initiative which aims to eliminate violence towards women and girls throughout the world.

Inner Wheel is supporting this initiative in Great Britain and Ireland and internationally and the Bude Club is proud to take part.

The benefice of North Kernow were welcomed to our Parish Church of St James the Great on Advent Sunday for a Holy Communion service for the whole Benefice.

The Church Bells rang out prior to the service, thanks to our regular team of Bell Ringers. As the congregation arrived the choir of St James the Great rendered hymns.

The service commenced with the procession of the robed choir to the chancel, led by John Cleave carrying the Cross. Kevin Mc Grath welcomed everyone and read the weekly notices.

The service was led by our new rural Dean, Rev Jeffery Terry, assisted by our worship leader, Ian Mason. Kevin McGrath lit the first ring of candles on the Advent Candle Tree, while Ian Mason read out the names of loved ones of which candles had been dedicated to their memory.

Lessons were read by Tony Davis and Ian Mason.

The singing of hymns was led by organist of St James the Great, Luke Francis and the Church Choir, who also rendered hymns and anthems during Holy Communion, which was administered by the Rural Dean and Church-warden Kevin McGrath.

The offertory was taken up by Joyce Davis and Jules Evanson. After the service, tea, coffee and biscuits were served. It was an impressive service with a large attendance from across the benefice, with children present, who were given creche activities in the Grenville Chapel.

Thank you to all who helped and took part in the service in any way.

Andrew Pitt of Bude led the service at Morwenstow Methodist Chapel at Shop on 'Christ The King' Sunday.

Edith Cleave accompanied the hymns which were: ‘Angel Voices ever singing’, ‘O worship the King’, ‘Lord of all hopefulness’ and ‘I cannot tell’.

The Merrytones Praise Group sang: 'God hath not promised'.

The lessons were read by Janet Ash and Ken Boundy.

The service on Advent Sunday was led by Rev Stephen Skinner of Woolsery.

Colin Tape was organist for the hymns: ‘Hark the glad sound’, ‘Lo He comes!’, ‘O come, O come Emmanuel’ and ‘Ye servants of God’.

Rev Stephen lit the first candle on the Advent Candle Ring and lessons were read by Stuart Ash and Ken Boundy.

The Merrytones Praise Group sang: 'Is there anything I can do for you'.

Both services were followed by coffee and a chance to chat in the Wesley Room.

The projector was controlled by Stuart Ash at both services.

The senior citizens of the parish were treated to a Christmas Lunch in the Community Hall last week. Special thanks must be given to the chefs, David Miles and Julia Bailey and to Elaine Miles for masterminding the whole event. Thanks also to St Mark School Choir and Morwenstow Hand Bell Ringers for providing entertainment and to Teresa Moule and Wendy Heard for leading everyone in the singing of carols. Thank you to all who helped in any way and to all our 'senior' guests for attending.

Mondays weekly - morning prayer at 10am.

Sunday, December 14 - Holy Communion at 11am.

Informal Worship at 10am.

The eleven WI members who attended November's meeting were outnumbered by guests and visitors, including members of the Archive Group, who came to hear Adrian Wilton's talk on The Churchill's Secret Army.

The organisation was set up by Winston Churchill in 1940 against strong opposition from other leaders. He had seen what the French and Italian Resistance groups were achieving and wanted to ensure there was a similar group in place in this country in case Hitler managed to invade us.

Recruits included WWI veterans and many in the farming community who were exempt from serving in the armed forces. Their contribution was particularly good as they were used to using guns, as indeed were poachers, another popular source of volunteers.

These men had to sign the "Official Secrets Act" which why people have only relatively recently that family members had been involved. They wore Home Guard uniforms but trained separately in Oxford and Scotland. Bunkers were built underground, either by the army or the group of members themselves, containing bunk bed, food provisions for 12 days; expected life span of volunteers after an invasion. Individual Secret Army groups had around ten members and would meet regularly to plan and train. Our local group was at Coads Green. Although the volunteers had no official role, a badge was designed especially for them and is much prized by the descendants of these volunteers, now they know what it represented.

The talk took place in the former chapel at Rilla Mill Retreat Centre. The WI members had to decamp to another room for the business part of the meeting as visitors were happily chatting among themselves and with Adrian and his lovely wife over tea and coffee.

Avril Hall won both the posy and the competition, and visitor Judy Cooper won the raffle prize.

Our next meetings will be the annual Christmas dinner at the Rifle Volunteer on December 2 and our Christmas Party on Monday, December 8, again at the Retreat Centre, when our fiendish white elephant present exchange will be a highlight. A thanks was extended by president Kim Sudell to Mr Wilton and to everyone who attended. For more information, contact [email protected]

The Guild meeting held on Monday, December 1, was a very enjoyable evening of singing a few carols, and nice variety of nibbles to munch on and then a selection of quiz questions and logo images, all to test the grey cells.

A very enjoyable evening had by all.

The next Guild meetings are on Monday, December 15, when for those wishing to go. Is to a Christmas concert, being held at Saltash Wesley Church, starting 7pm. With an Augmented Choir and Burraton Primary School Choir.

The following meeting will take place in the new year. On Monday, January 5, at 7.30pm. When the guest speaker will be Jeremy Gist, speaking on the work of 'Soup Run'. Held at Callington Methodist Church, in the Guild room. All are welcome.

The choir of St Mary Magdalene under the direction of Dr Sean Sweeney sang a service of choral evensong for the first Sunday in December. The service was led by James Wonnacott who also acted as cantor in the Responses by William Smith.

The canticles were sung to a setting by John Ireland in F and the anthem was “O thou, the central orb “ by Charles Wood, both of which were conducted by Bernard Pink with Dr Sweeney accompanying on the organ. Bill Roberts read the lessons from Isaiah and Paul’s letter to the Romans.

The service ended with the demanding Fantasia in G minor by J S Bach played by Dr Sweeney.

The choir is now preparing for the service of nine lessons and carols on Christmas Eve at the usual time of 5.30pm. The next evensong, which will be read, will be on Sunday, January 4, also at 5.30pm.