| CommuniGate | June Weekend 2006

This is Herefordshire | CommuniGate | The Kilvert Society

Feedback

About the Kilvert Society

Snippets from the Diary

Some Places in the Diary

*Contact the Kilvert Society

*The Kilvert Collection

*The Kilvert Society Journal

*Publications List

*Forthcoming Events

*Join Our Society

A visit to Aberystwyth

Bockleton Court

A Visit To Bath

Kilvert's Hay on Wye

September Weekend

A Visit To Oxford

Curiosities

A Visit to Wootton,Oxfordshire.

A Visit To Bristol

Events and meetings 2006

June Weekend 2006

Events and Meetings 2007

Events and Meetings 2008

Events and Meetings 2009

Message Board

Guestbook

Mail Form

Bredwardine Lake, the Old Weston and a commemoration service

The June weekend was very enjoyable and involved a walk around Bredwardine Lake, situated just behind the old Rectory, now stables; a visit to the Old Weston, which was amazing followed and a lovely commemoration service held at St Andrew’s Bredwardine on the Sunday. Of course, mention should be made of the ‘capital’ Kilvert teas, now a must on every Kilvert visit.

We began the weekend with a picnic lunch in and around St Andrew's churchyard. Most people visited Kilvert’s, Little Davie’s and Mrs Kilvert’s graves. We set off down behind the Rectory towards the lake, a beautiful, peaceful walk passing what we thought might have been a badger set or, perhaps more likely, rabbit holes. The sun shone and we walked steadily, enjoying the scents and sounds of an English summer. We ambled around the lake where some lovely bull rushes stood, tall and majestic. Dragon flies darted here and there amongst the exquisite deep green ferns – which would have delighted Kilvert; wild damsons hung invitingly from heavily laden branches.

Although the lake wasn’t around in Kilvert’s time, we all decided that he must have walked in this delightful spot.

Before we moved off in our cars to the Old Weston, Chairman, Michael Sharp read a poem that Kilvert wrote about Little Davie. For anyone reading this who doesn’t know the story, Little Davie was the eight-year old son of a local shepherd and his wife Margaret. There were several children and the family lived together in the Old Weston, a quaint cottage, quite a way off the main road, which goes from Brewdwardine to Hay-on-Wye. Little Davie’s funeral was on Christmas Day 1878 and Kilvert writes: ‘Immediately after dinner I had to go back to the church, for the funeral of Little Davie of the Old Weston who died on Monday was fixed for 2.15.

‘The weather was dreadful, the snow driving blinding clouds and the walking tiresome. Yet the funeral was only 20 minutes late...The snow fell thickly all through the service...David Davies, the shepherd, was crying bitterly for the loss of his little lamb....’

The Old Weston, as already stated, is a long way from the main road and although the family might have gone across the fields taking their precious little son to his last resting place, it would have probably been eaier to walk along the track from the house to the road.

We had been given permission by the local farmer, Mr Dennis Price, to park in his field very near the Old Weston.

The owner of the Old Weston, Mr J Barraclough, was very kind and gladly answered the many questions put to him. He graciously allowed us to roam around the garden and take photographs. He had put out photo albums, which showed the state of the property when he and his wife bought it 30 years ago.

After a delightful couple of hours, we dragged ourselves away from this lovely old building to the wonderful modern village hall at Moccas where the ladies of Moccas WI had provided a sumptuous tea.

The next day at the service of commemoration, we were very sorry to learn that Rev Roger James, vicar of St Andrew's and member of the Kilvert Society, had had an accident and was unable to conduct the service. However, Rev Rana Davies-James ably stepped in. Michael Sharp and Mrs Elizabeth Rowe read the lessons from Judges 6: 11 to end and 1 John chapter 1. St Joseph’s Choir, from Hay-on-Wye, led singing; the choir was conducted by Pat Hammon and the organist was Stephen Gilling. The hymns were:- ‘Father Hear the Prayer we Offer’, ‘Immortal, Invisible, God only Wise’ , ‘Hark My Soul! It is the Lord’ and ‘The Day Thou Gavest’. Following the service, tea was provided by Oakchurch Garden Centre.

Two photographers, Nick Jenkins and Kevin Thomas, have recently produced a picture book 'Moods of Kilvert Country'. This has superb photographs of the countryside known and loved by Francis Kilvert. For more information, contact Nick on www.freespiritimages.com.

Photograph shows some members enjoying the Old Weston's beautiful garden.