Magazine

Falmouth Parish Church

The Church of King Charles the Martyr

November 2009

Dates for Your Diary –

King Charles Mummers Autumn Production

11th – 14th November at 7.30 pm (see below)

Flower Arrangers’ Coffee Morning Wednesday November 18th

at 10.30 am in the KCM Coffee Shop tickets £1.50

Advent Carol Service 7.30 pm Sunday November 29th

Christmas Fayre Saturday December 5th, 9.30 am – Noon

Candlelit Service of Nine Lessons & Carols,

Tuesday December 22nd at 7.30pm

Items from the Parish Magazine-

The KCM Messenger

November 2009

Dancing to Raise Funds for our Church Hall Project.

Dear All,

At the time of writing this article we have just hosted the Harvest festival service for children from King Charles school. The service was very joyful and it truly was a time of thanksgiving. It was nice to see parents and some grandparents at the service and one of the pupils, Angus, played the piano. Thanks go to our flower arrangers for the lovely Harvest floral displays. The singing was great and the songs reflected a genuine concern for the welfare of our world and its people. I am glad that we are developing closer links with King Charles school and we look forward to the children attending our church for their Christmas celebrations.

Our newly refurbished church hall is looking good and the new family room is great and it is good to see it being put to good use for meetings. We recently received some good news from the Rank Organisation and they have promised us £1,000 towards our hall project. This is a generous response to our church/community project. We now have approximately £16,000 to raise to complete the project. Further gifts and donations will be appreciated .

This month we are very grateful to Lynn Hill who runs a local dance school (Lynn is one of the main hirers of our hall) for organising a dance/choreography afternoon in the church hall to help us to raise funds for our project on the afternoon of Sunday 15^th November 2009. I will announce more details of this in church nearer the time- please come along and support this event and enjoy the dancing and talent of local young performers.

Yours sincerely,

Stephen

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KING CHARLES MUMMERS

Autumn Production

The long and well established King Charles Mummers have once again begun rehearsals for their next highly anticipated performance, a farce 'Pools Paradise' by Philip King.

This is a highly entertaining and amusing play, full of energy, it is keeping a well honed cast on its toes and is guaranteed to delight the audience and leave them wanting more.

With the revival of classic plays on the West End, the King Charles Mummers are offering a slice of theatrical flair that you cannot afford to miss.

It will be presented in the King Charles Theatre, (complete with new lift, easy access for all) from

Wednesday 11^t" November to Saturday 14^s' November inclusive.

- - Our Booking office is at

The Poly Booking Office
Church Street
Falmouth
TR11 3EG
01326 212300

Tickets priced at just £5 may be booked at The Poly (between 10.00 am and 5.00 pm. Monday to Saturday), or at the Theatre each evening. Patrons bookings start or, Monday 26^th October 2009 and General Bookings from Tuesday 27^th October 2009 onwards.

Jane Reid, Director

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REMEMBRANCE…………a personal memoir……

By Gerald Freemantle

Remembrance – the act of remembering, both of events and people - and this is what those of us who went through the period of war and its immediate aftermath do every November. Each of us has our own personal memories, some of them remaining intensely vivid and some reminding us that they changed the course of our lives.

The declaration of war against Germany – gathering in silence to hear the fateful news and then quietly organising the blackout. In June 1940, I enlisted in the Home Guard with my Father and Brother and stayed two years – my Brother and I became the top Vickers Machine Gun team! During this time, we were adjusting to rationing of food etc. and complying with the innumerable edicts from government. Eventually being “called up” and then into the Royal Air Force and becoming a Pilot Officer Navigator on bombers. But one night over the French coast the German anti-aircraft guns found their target and the plane was in flames. The pilot’s voice over the intercom – “bale out” and then the parachute opening and one’s life was saved. The great sadness to learn that three colleagues had died. These are the vivid memories that evoke the overwhelming sadness each November.

So another life began - adjusting, adapting – new friends – some to remain good friends for many years. There was time to think about the future, hopes and dreams; needs and desires and decisions to be made and coming to the realisation that the course of one’s life was changing for ever.

The return to the normality of home after two years proved to be difficult. The inability to talk about the period and the difficulty of planning the future resulted in a near mental breakdown. There was no counselling and a great need for it. Being called back into service saved the day and proved to be a happy two years.

These were the consequences of war – life changing and not always making the right decisions. Another two years of frustration and inappropriate work. Then it happened – an insistent thought – a voice repeating “This is what you must do”. There was no information, no guidance but eventually acceptance into training to be a nurse was achieved.

Again, a complete change of direction – unexpected and surprising. But there was nonetheless a conviction that this was right, was what I had been waiting for. Work that was worthwhile, meaningful – helping and caring. My life was saved and I was able to make a difference – if only in a small way – for my fellowman.

Throughout all the years, of war, and the aftermath, there was the ever present guidance of God.

Remembrance – the act of remembering – memories of events and people over a period of some seventy years, influencing and changing one’s life. Remembering those who suffered and are still suffering – and those who gave their lives – and being eternally grateful.

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CHURCH HALL FUND RAISING

Collections during the period 8^th September to 13^th October have been:-

Grant from The Rank Foundation 1,000.00

Concert by Maasai Warrior Troup 825.48

Tax refund on Gift Aid donations 194.76

Coffee Shop 159.17