|
|
Village News |
|
CONTENTS | |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
PAGE INDEX | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rev & Sue Owen |
|
|
Camel Poem |
In August, after 15 years in Swavesey, serving as the minister at Bethel Baptist Church, Sue and I have been called to a church in Gants Hill, Ilford. We will be swapping the rural life for the urban life. 15 years seems so long in Swavesey, but we know that for some 15 years is only a drop in the ocean, unlike those who can probably trace back their family for 15 generations within the village. However for us we will find it a wrench to leave, but know that the move to Gants Hill, to Ashurst Drive Baptist Church is right, as it has been happy years for us as a family in Swavesey. Although still only relative newcomers, barely toe in the door some might say, we have always felt very welcomed and have always found the community very friendly and very warm. During our time in Swavesey we have seen many changes in the village, the most notable of which has been the relocation of Barwells and the building of Cherry Trees. During the building of Cherry Trees I have served on Parish Council and have felt a tremendous privilege doing this and have learnt so much about footpaths, drainage, highways and planning to mention a few things. As a townie I have also learnt the difference between straw and hay, but it took a few years to get the information stored properly! Who can forget when Swavesey was a centre for the television programmers on Millennium night with our own version of Big Ben followed by the Summer Millennium Fete on the Green. The speaking at the annual Carols on Market Street at Christmas is a privilege and so many more great memories of the village, one of which has been the input into the schools - even the days when I was OFSTEDed …….. Not sure if this was a privilege though…the word scary comes to mind! So as we move on to Ilford, to a church which is only some 10 minutes walk from an Underground station, where public transport is used greatly and where buses are frequent, we shall be taking Swavesey with us as we shall never forget the people we have met. As we move in August we take this opportunity to say more of an 'Au Revoir' rather than a good-bye. Richard and Sue Owen |
The Rev.Richard Owen came to Swavesey with his wife Sue and daughters Becky and Beth in 1990.They had been part of a ministry team at Thomas Helwiss Baptist Church in Nottingham. Richard had previously been a school teacher and Sue a nurse. Coming to Swavesey was getting a little nearer home for them as both had been born and grew up in Essex. However leading a village church like Bethel presented different challenges from those they had encountered in cosmopolitan Nottingham, The Bethel Church had not had a minister for about three years, so there were plenty of things to be done including making the Manse, No 113 Middle Watch, a family home and also a place where every one would receive a welcome. Richard and Sue presented themselves for ministry as a partnership, and over time this began to take effect as they found out God. s will for them in the Church and in the community. Either would be found leading worship or preaching, but each having a different style were able to appeal to a wide range of people, this together with there gift for hospitality and the fact that they were always available ensured that the Church grew as people presented themselves for Believers Baptism. More people means more workers and so the ministry team suggested that a Luncheon Club be held weekly on Fridays. More people means more money and the members were able with the support and encouragement of Richard and Sue to launch into an ambitious refurbishment and building work the like of which had not been seen since the Church was first built. By attending courses, fraternals, exhibitions and later a sabbatical to America ..together with their own personal study, Richard and Sue were able to keep worship up to date and relevant House Groups were started and a group to lead worship with instruments and singing, ogether with various groups for young and older people. All this was not at the expense of the time honoured ministerial activities of preaching, teaching and pastoral care. For some years now Richard has been a regular visitor to both the Village College and the Primary School where he has engaged with the children in teaching and discussion on religious subjects. Richard has also been serving the community on the Parish Council, where his agile mind and forthright opinions were put to good use. He is chairman of the Memorial Hall Committee and is on the Finance Committee and has also been a Trustee of the Frere Cottages. Sue meanwhile joined Cambridgeshire Social Services and became involved in Training Care staff. More recently she has been dealing with the transfer of Social Services responsibilities to the N.H.S. Richard and Sue. s Church activities have not been confined to Swavesey. hey made two trips to Togo, a small, impoverished country in Africa, and set up an exchange visit for one of the Church leaders there to come to England with his wife, these contacts have resulted in money and equipment being sent to Togo. Another activity which owes much to the Owens. enthusiasm and ingenuity is Leading Edge, a Christian Holiday which take place annually for one week in August. Both Richard and Sue have always endeavoured to serve other local Churches and it is a measure of the esteem in which they are held that Richard has served as Moderator in two Cambridgeshire Churches, and as a couple they have frequently ministered to ministers in this area. Sue and Richard now feel they are being directed to become leaders in a Church called Ashhurst Drive in Ilford. lt is with sadness that the people at Bethel will say "Goodbye" but also with thankfulness for all that has been achieved in God. s name during the past fifteen years. |
|
The Dichotomy of Dromedary Diversity A shame they didn't know and couldn't tell In any dictionary worthy of an Etymologist The ecology of biology does not relate by Tim Phillips 2nd Jan 2005
Guanacos are elegant and fine boned and stand approximately 3ft6" (1.06m) at the shoulder and weigh around 200lb (91kg). Like the llama, the guanaco is double coated with a coarse guard hair and soft undercoat, which is even more highly prized that that of the alpaca, although they carry far less of it. The colour varies very little, ranging from a light brown to dark cinnamon and shading to white underneath. Guanacos have grey faces and small straight ears. They are extremely striking with their large, alert brown eyes, streamlined form and their energetic pace. They are particularly ideal for keeping in large groups in open parkland situations. For more information see http://www.llama.co.uk/guanaco.htm |