FRIENDS OF BAWDESWELL CHURCH 

Many thanks to all who supported the Race Night in February.
 

Next Coffee Morning & Quarterly Draw – Saturday  2nd April  2005, 
in the church.  FREE & Everyone Welcome
 

FORTHCOMING EVENTS 

30th April  Saturday CONCERT – South Norfolk Operatic & Choral Society 
plus  Alison Milne - Violin, accompanied by Roger Rayner

May 21st  Saturday
THE BAWDESWELL BALL 
(profit split Ch. Friends, Alexander Roper Trust & Big C)
Venue: Village Hall plus Marquees
A major event for the village.  Ask about booking a table now. 

June 26th Sunday 
VILLAGE  FETE & CAR BOOT SALE
Venue: Recreation Ground & Village Hall
Joint event with other Village organisations 
July 30th Saturday 
CHURCH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT & SUPPER
Venue: Church & marquee
Performer: Dr. Gerald Gifford 'Georgian Delights' with instruments
Sept 17th Saturday 
HARVEST SUPPER & CEILIDH
Venue: Village Hall plus Marquee
Nov 18th Friday 
CHRISTMAS FLOWER & DECORATION DEMONSTRATION
10.30am coffee/11am Demonstration/1pm Lunch
Dec 11th Sunday 
CHRISTMAS CONCERT FOR ALL THE FAMILY Inc TEA 4pm
Venue: Church - Inc School Choir
 

Held in the Bar on the first Thursday of the month at 7.30.

Our book choices for March are :-  " Madame Bovary "  by Gustave Flaubert
                                                               " The Da Vinci Code "  by Dan Brown.
BOOK REVIEWS – 

OUR LADY OF THE FOREST BY DAVID GUTERSON
Our Lady of the Forest is set in the town of North Fork, Washington.  The local logging industry is failing and the town is a damp and dismal place.  The story centres on Ann a sixteen year old  runaway who is living on a camp site with a group of itinerants.  Whilst in the forest picking mushrooms she ‘sees’ a vision of the Virgin Mary.  She is told to return to the same spot on 4 occasions to witness further sightings and receive instruction.  Word of the ‘visions’ spreads first to other people in the town and then further afield until thousands converge upon the town seeking spiritual experiences and miracle cures. 
For the local priest, questioning his own faith and celibacy, and Tom Cross whose son was paralyzed in an accident for which he blames himself, it seems to offer possibilities of redemption and hope.  For her ‘friend’ Carolyn the opportunities presented are selfish and financially exploitative.
This is an intelligently written and often compelling novel which explores how an extraordinary situation invokes the best and (predominantly) worst in human nature.  It is not a comforting read, however, the setting with its constantly dripping forest, mildewed homes and cut price stores is uncomfortable and depressing and it is hard to feel liking or sympathy for the characters.   This is a novel more concerned with questions than answers and there are no satisfactory  ‘happy endings’ or revelations for the reader. 
Chrissie Pickard   09 February 2005

THE WOMAN IN WHITE BY WILKIE COLLINS
Wilkie Collins [1824-1889] was a friend of Charles Dickens and a prolific and popular Victorian author.  The Woman in White was published in 1860 and has never been out of print, it was first published in Dickens weekly journal.  The story is narrated by various characters; the plot is complicated and full of coincidences.  There is a memorable villain and a wonderful atmosphere.  It is a ‘not want to put down’ book, I thought it was ideal to read at Christmas.  It also provides a fascinating social commentary on class relations, and Victorian attitudes to the treatment of the insane, foreigners and feminism.
It is currently a West End musical and was serialized on TV.
At the same meeting people read out a poem they had chosen, these ranged from comical [Fungus the Bogeyman] to romantic [Yeats] and sad [Wilfred Owen]. 
Hazel Crawley  13 Jan 2005