These past thirty years, four gardens later and not in heavy rain, I take my first tea outside still
in nightclothes and sit on my bench. It is my time of Quiet!
In my garden a friendly Robin sits close up and Jenny Wren pops here and there. I wonder if the
Long Tailed Tits are from the two broods that fledged in my old french cupboard, standing in the
backyard, amongst its shelves of old green bottles and stone jars. A pair of Blackbirds move
through the plants and the Church clock chimes the hour to join in my thoughts about our World,
the tribulations of it's people amidst natural disasters and the continued uncertainty of Wars.
So back to my Bench:
It was made from the timbers of The Esperance Bay a Scottish Passenger/Cargo Steam Vessel
launched in 1922, but requisitioned by the Admiralty at the start of the War. As an Armed
Merchant Cruiser it rescued in July 1941, nine merchant seamen, whose ship had been sunk by a
U-Boat. In 1955 the Esperance was broken up and my bench made in the late fifties.
Sitting on my Bench:
I am in awe at the unexpected beauty of my flowers, a carpet of snowdrops, primroses, cyclamen
and the roses and not forgetting the anticipation of seeing many other flowers. My thoughts are
drawn to what the nine men must have prayed for waiting to be saved.
As we approach Lent on 5th March an Ash Wednesday Service takes place at St Catherine to start
our journey with Jesus to the Cross at Easter.
Wherever your Quiet Place may be I pray that you are able to give time to think about your life,
what it means to you and perhaps let God speak into your heart.
"I Lift My Eyes To The Quiet Hills"
April Noyes
Weddings, Baptism and Funerals
It is our privilege to be involved in many of the significant moments of people's lives. Here at The Waterside Group of Churches we will do our best to guide you through what Christians mean by baptism, marriage and funerals.
Waterside Scratch Band
Scratch Band is the church music group for the Waterside group of parishes. The band meets for practice, fellowship, fun and a tea break every Thursday evening at 7.30pm to 9.30pm usually in the Church Room, Ludham or in one of the Waterside parish churches.
We play for services in the Waterside benefice and beyond, supporting regular worship in the churches and outdoors. We also entertain at local events and go carol singing in pubs, care homes and anywhere else that will have us!
Scratch is open to all. A warm welcome awaits whether you sing, play an instrument, or would just like to listen.
Contacts:
David Frost mobile: 07907679630
Diana Rackham mobile: 07880943104
Email: dianarackham@hotmail.com
WATERSIDE SCRATCH BAND – PRESS RELEASE
Meets: Thursdays, 7:30pm – 9:30pm, Ludham Church Room (Please check with a contact before coming, in case we are meeting elsewhere)
Contacts:
David Frost mobile: 07907679630
Diana Rackham mobile: 07880943104
Email: dianarackham@hotmail.com
Scratch Band is the church music group for the Waterside group of parishes.
The band meets for practice, fellowship, fun and a tea break every Thursday evening at 7.30pm to 9.30pm usually in the Church Room, Ludham or in one of the Waterside parish churches.
We play for services in the Waterside benefice and beyond, supporting regular worship in the churches and outdoors. We also entertain at local events and go carol singing in pubs, care homes and anywhere else that will have us!
Scratch is open to all. A warm welcome awaits whether you sing, play an instrument, or would just like to listen.
New member Dianne comments:
Hello, we are the scratch band, a group of musicians and singers who provide music and support for the Waterside Benefice (Ludham, Catfield and Potter Heigham Churches). We were formed some 10 years ago to provide music when there was no organist in the churches. And so now we attend all Benefice services and other special services in the church calendar. This Christmas we sang carols at Stalham Christmas event, sung to the residents at The Old Vicarage, Ludham. We were also found singing carols in the The Crown Public House Catfield one of our more unusual venues. Our happy band could also be heard in all three churches over Christmas. The final feather in our cap was a spot on Radio Norfolk singing our own very special rendition of While Shepherds.
My name is Dianne, and I am one of the new members of the band. I enjoy singing but never felt brave enough to join a choir. So when the bands leader David Frost invited me to become a member of the Scratch Band and I went along in fear and trepidation but I can honestly say is the best decision I made. There’s music, laughter and fellowship at our weekly meetings and I now really hate to miss a meeting. I urge anyone who loves to sing or play and perhaps a little hesitant about joining to come and give us a try. There’s no audition.
There is also a social side to our group and for Burns Night this year we had a haggis neeps and tatties supper followed by the traditional dessert of Cranach. The haggis was piped in by one of our musicians Ros Wilson and the address was given by another of our musicians Eilish. Once we had all enjoyed our supper we were treated to a very informative and enjoyable talk by Dr Zena Aldridge on “Dementia Awareness”. The whole evening was a huge success.
So having read all about us, I hope it’s whet your appetite and made you just a-bit curious about us
THE SCRATCH BAND.
The Waterside
