Words from Woodview

Mrs Powell, aka Mother or Joyce, the lady who, along with our father Melvin, was responsible for bringing us up as well as bringing the Old Vicarage back from dereliction 55 years ago used to write a monthly article called Vowchurch Jottings for the local Golden Valley News when she lived here. Now that she has moved just up the road to Peterchurch, it is rebranded Words from Woodview and some of the more recent entries are available below.

Hopefully they give an insight into life in The Golden Valley, the travails of supporting Hereford (United) FC, rural living more broadly and interesting insights into nature, history and whetever else comes in Mum’s mind on a given month!

December 2024

Just been working out what I’d missed in 6 days recently: a Christmas shopping trip with the Monday Club; lunch at the Hub on the Thursday; my enjoyable weekly volunteering at the Hub on Friday; having my marmalade stall at the Hub Christmas Fayre; a home football match which they won 3..0; and a farewell to Andy and Karen at the Turnastone service. They are moving down south; with his very strong Scottish accent Andy had taken many services at Turnastone. And finally absent from the Monday Club. Sounds a lot in a few days, shows how much goes on in and around the Valley. So much more too.
  My younger son Gavin, who lives in Redbrooke  is well aware of my love of bears especially Paddington Bear.(If you’ve seen marmalade jars with PB and a comment, yes made by JP). He took his family Casper (4), Forest(1) Ellie and guess who, to Colbrook to watch the Bear returning to Peru, the country of his birth, to find his aunty and other relations. Both boys stayed awake and thoroughly enjoyed it. At the same time Peterchurch was flooded and just about impassable. Great picture doing the rounds of a youngster floating down to Crossways. Brilliant. Making the best of a bad job.
  Our contact with Ukraine continues. The large van was chocker full, my small donation of clothes and food will I know help in a small way. It reminded so much when Vowchurch adopted Girbau, a village in Romania, during their awful life under ceacesceau Melvin took a large van to the village, staying with the village dentist. Peterchurch Primary school pupils were involved in collecting and writing letters to their village children.
   So much happens at our Village Hall and the Church, they both give us so much to enjoy, learn and experience. The Hub at the Church offers tasty foods from Tuesday to Friday 11.00 til 2.00, with very tasty hot meals on Wednesdays and Thursdays. They are so busy, word has spread far and wide as to the standard and enjoyment of the visit. You may need to book to make sure of a seat on both of those midweek days. Just a warning… they make a cheesecake of varying flavours. Don’t touch it with a barge pole…. well not til I’ve had my piece! Thanks Sarah, Jayne and Marea for your dedication.
 Many were invited to view and enjoy John’s ( Judy’s late husband’s) paintings, accompanied by tasty nibbles and renderings by the Peterchurch choir. A truly enjoyable occasion. Preceeding this were wonderful photos by Gill Perkins. The viewings change monthly, so much talent in our beautiful Valley.
Staying in the Valley, there’s a monthly musical service at Dorstone church on Sundays 4.00,(resting til February I believe). Nearly all are of local talent with voice or instrument. Once again a variety of talent. The Valley has it and the Valley uses it… the Gethin family being an example themselves…. Thankyou. The last of the year was an interesting experience, the playing of a melodian.
 Vowchurch holds a Saturday Market. When it originally started it was weekly, remember it well… one that started my marmalade-making and my 13 year old son Elwyn making cakes. Folks said how good were my cakes!.. couldn’t take the praise could I but they were. Must be well over 40 years ago! We had a brilliant committee, prepared to try anything different to make money for the hall improvements… it had rarely  been used for years, so the men were brill… putting in a kitchen which was priority. Painting, floor sanding by hand, by some of the youngsters. The dressing up banquets were so memorable, local support was incredible. Good to see the awakening of the attractive hall.. back to life as it was meant to be. Very different entertainment nowadays. Shortmat bowls is held weekly on Wednesdays. A Village Pub night is held not just for drinking but games, chatting, darts. Relaxation classes too. Again within easy reach of Peterchurch.
   That scary storm, early December caused a variation of nuisance, but not as bad as parts of Wales. Locally, some lost power, some their television and phone, whilst Darragh also blew down many fences. I guess I was lucky, it was the tele(which made the evenings very long) and my phone which meant no messaging between me and the family for several days. I rely on this this to keep my head above water. Luckily I didn’t lose electricity at all. 
   Members of the Monday Club were entertained this morning, (9/12/24)by pupils from Fairfield School. What a treat. We listened eagerly to instruments from the girls.. guitar and piano and a tuba by the only young male of the group. The whole group consisted of over 30 and the singing from that , to duet and soloist. Not only that, they served coffee mince pies AND mulled wine. Having been a teacher many moons ago one notices other things, the politeness, their obedience, their thoughtfulness, and the expressions while singing (and the wandering attention away from the conductor to sum up their audience reactions!) Thankyou Mrs. Sage, we hope they enjoyed their side of it as much as we did.
Wishing you all a joyfully Christmas. And Thankyou once again

November 2024

Continuing history of the Pandy Inn Dorstone:
 The earliest mention of the Pandy as an Inn seems to be 28th December 1780. An advert was found of the auctioning of coppice wood and timber “at the Public House called the Pandy in Dorstone.” The Hereford Times described it as ‘ an outstanding 16 c. hostelry’.
    In another of my ‘diggings’ the building of the church was accredited to de Brito, so that’s: the Pandy, a chapel and also the church! Busy, busy. Anyway another question…what size was the Pandy in 1845? It was apparently the venue for an assembly on 9th January presided over by Col. Powell of Hardwick for upwards of 160 to sit down for supper, ‘a most seasonal delicacy.’ Not just the food but entertainment followed of dancing and singing! The Col. intended by  the next year to have built ‘a new and more accommodating room’ for his numerous friends.
 The Woolhope club visited in 1882 and were most impressed, enjoying dinner under the trees, another visit ensued in 1888. I wonder if they travelled by rail? The GV railway branch line to Hay on Wye opened 1st September 1881, as far as Dorstone,  then  on to Hay 8 years later. Passengers used it up until 24rd August 1941 ( then animals and deliveries only perhaps ?)and it closed completely in 1951. How many of you took a journey on the line, particularly it’s last journey?
 During the rebuilding of the church in the Victorian period, 1890, a grave was  then found of another de Brito in whose tomb was also a pewter chalice. For many years the church housed/displayed the chalice until, sadly, stolen, as recent as 2006. Has anyone got a picture of it?Unfortunately valuable items are locked away these days and are not seen by visitors. Even stones have been stolen from church walls recently. Found one on the pavement a few weeks ago. Too heavy for me, a kindly young gentleman was close by and repositioned it. Wasn’t sure if it had been someone pratting around. Please keep a watch.
  Fairs were held in front of the Pandy until late 19th century of “horned cattle, sheep and pigs.” I well remember going to similar occasions to Peterchurch, Longtown, Ewyias  Harold and Llanthony with my father when I was quite young. Great excitement. Just sheep though. Not as much to attend in those days… sports and shows at Peterchurch, Longtown and the aerodrome at Michaelchurch. Also eistedfords at Newton, Longtown and Kington. Then church, chapel and Sunday school.
Oops off the track a bit.
Did you know that the Pandy hold a competition in January? A SLOE GIN ONE when a winner is crowned The Grand Master of the Sloes. In 2015, 30 entered and over 50 judged! Hic!} I’m pretty sure the competition was held last year. The sloes should be picked after the 1st frost, then each one pricked, traditionally by a thorn taken from the bush on which they grew.
HEREFORDSHIRE DIALECT  of the PAST…often words/phases used by my father….a very
broad speaking Herefordshire farmer. (Some are probably used further afield…no pun intended)
EMPT…. Rain empts down… empties .. very heavily.
ETTLES….nettles
FILD ………field
ARCHUT.. orchard
GILLIES…..wallflowers
GRANCHER/GRANFER..grandad. Our family always used GRANCHER . Was it from Wales?

October 2024

Having attended a home football match at Edgar St. over the August bank holiday I left feeling more frustrated than ever before. I’ve said for some considerable time that I dislike the league we’re in… the Northern  league.  A huge % of teams must be using ‘acting’ as part of their training sessions. They mimic a really bad injury, and the game comes to a halt, usually when WE’RE having a very positive run. 5 minutes later the player slowly raises himself, having had ‘treatment’ and after just a few seconds of an almost convincing limp, he’s ‘as good as new.’ urghhhh!! If they happen to be drawing or winning about 10 mins. from the end they cleverly slow down the game, especially the goalkeeper. How long does it take to kick a ball up the pitch! Tactics! The referee was fooled by so much of their acting, such a pity there wasn’t a referee reporter there that day to relay his comments to the FA. The true meaning of SPORT can be ruined by any partakers of any sport, sadly.
  I’ve been looking into the history of the Pandy Inn, Dorstone, (the oldest in Herefordshire) as I noticed it was on the market at £495,000 if you’re interested. For starters 2 different dates were found for the official building date by Richard le Breton, one of the 4 knights who killed Thomas a Becket in 1170. There was a local cloth mill, this being built for the workers, ‘Pandy’ being the name of one of their machines in the mill. It was also used by workers building a chapel (since demolished)originally attached to the church. It is thought Richard had it built in atonement for his sins, but some evidence says the chapel wasn’t built until 1256. The more one looks into things the more complicated it becomes especially when dates are involved.   TBC
  HEREFORDSHIRE DIALECT of the PAST
Apparently ‘hedging’ is a speciality of the Golden Valley, nothing to do with what you’re thinking,  the growing thing between fields or gardens. It is…
 not giving a direct answer.
Example: Question: “ How old do you think she is?”
                        Reply: (from someone who knows).. “Well she must be getting on.” or
                        Jokingly, “ She’s not so young as she was.
                 Question:  “What’s the time?”
                        Reply:  “Well, in quarter of an hour it will be 11.00 o’clock.”
Others: Will you be at tomorrow’s meeting? Instead of a direct, “I shall,” it’s “I suppose”or “if it all goes well” or “ God willing” or on the other hand “it’s unsure”or “ I’m not quite sure” is more negative.
Others in the area:
We have a reluctance of using the words ‘death or dying’ but:
he is going down hill; he’s leaving us; he is going to ‘is rest; he’s going home; his day’s work is nearly over; he’s not long for this world; he’s passed away (or on);
Understatements:  a man with a bumper crop.. not boasting but..pretty fair. On the other hand a poor crop..: it’s a bit thin. A farmer’s remark that he’d …paid a pretty fair shot, for his farm…means he’d paid a high price for what was ..good land.
Hope you all had A PRETTY FAIR CROP THIS YEAR. Health, money, results, crops etc.

September 2024

Returning at last!!
With the weather not being too helpful towards gardeners at the moment of writing, thought it might be an idea to start with the garden. Do you have a problem with slugs? Most folks do. They are very busy at night, whilst you’re  watching tele, reading or snoring! I remember going out with a torch to see how many I could catch. Wish I could remember the actual number, but I did record it in the GVN at the time. The number will truly amaze you. They love most veg except: beetroot, chard, artichoke, tomatoes, onions, garlic, chives and fennel, BUT they love anything that’s newly planted and obviously, has tender leaves. On the other hand there are plants they hate, so try experimenting by planting these amongst your other veg. or plants which they appear to attack…Salvia, foxgloves, lavender, nepeta, euphorbia, roses, lilies and Astrantia. They also dislike fluffy, ridged foliage, tough leathery leaves, strong smelling and apparently red or purple foliage! Worth a try.
   I knew the yew tree in Peterchurch churchyard was pretty old. Did you ever wonder about it’s age? It is one of the oldest in the country, about 3,000 years old. Back in the late 13C. it would have been coppiced for bow making. ( as a bit more local history we would have been allowed to kill a Welshman on the Castle Green, on a Sunday with a bow and arrow…ooops…oh dear) Peterchurch has had a church since about 786AD. The church you see now was built about 1130. Anyone know what happed to the original? Unfortunately there was a fire badly damaging the yew tree in the churchyard as recently as the late 1970. There must be several of you living here remembering it. Would love to hear your account of it especially if you were a member of the bucket chain trying to doubt it. In 1986 a new yew was planted on St.Peter’s Day. Was there a concern that the old yew would die soon?
   Do you love cats? There are a few straying cats around Hawthorn Rise, one in particular gives me the heeby  jeebies (sp?) it adopts anyone’s front lawn for sunbathing, but worse than that it loves a snooze in the middle of the road. Leisurely, it stretches and moves away when a vehicle approaches, sure I’m not the only one who wonders if it’s been run over and so pleased when looking in the mirror that it’s just slowly ambling away. One used to visit the Monday Club regularly as it knew someone would give him loving attention. A little info I found recently  on the back of a Cats Protection booklet might interest you. A. Cats sleep around 2/3rds of the time. So by the time a cat is 9 years old (in human years!) it will only have been awake for 3 years! B. Cats are unable to taste anything sweet. C. Cats can produce more than 100 vocal sounds. Not my results, I’m just quoting. The 1st one I can certainly believe!
HEREFORD DIALECT OF THE ‘PAST.. often words, phrases used by my father.. a very broad speaking Herefordshire farmer. (Some are probably used further afield.. no pun intended!)
QUAT  QUOT… a pimple. Dad referred to them as squilts.. maybe one that comes to a ‘head’ so could be different.
CRATCH…. We had one in our ‘sitting room’ made of wood, level and just far enough below the ceiling to hold flitches of bacon. The pig would have been reared on the farm, killed, hair burned off then hung in the back-kitchen from the ceiling to drain its blood through mouth and nose into a container. The ‘pig man’ would come and cut it into joints, ready for the salting stone in the dairy. We weren’t at all squeamish, as you may be, reading it! It was all part of growing up on a farm.
SCRUTCHINGS.. SCRATCHINGS… crispy pieces left after rendering down fat. Nowadays they can be purchased in packets, unheard of 70 years ago.
STARVED…. perished with cold. ‘I’m perished’ meaning very, very cold not lack of food.