The Spirit of Helmdon
About five years ago I chanced upon two ladies from Australia reminiscing down Cross Lane.
I invited them into our cottage where they told us that over 50 years ago they had lived in
Helmdon.
It turned out that they were Joan and Mary, daughters of the Rev. Ball who was Rector of
Helmdon Church from March 1939 – December 1948.
Both had very fond memories of living here and on leaving Joan promised to write a poem
and send it to us, dedicated to the people of Helmdon.
So here it is …
There‘s a spot on God’s earth which is precious to those..
Who have lived by some chance in this place.
Cherished memories of childhood flood back to my mind
As I linger between time and space.
When we came to this village long, long years ago
To the Rectory up there on the hill.
We were strangers, the new folks, from heaven knows where.
Yet my heart is in love with it still.
Just a decade we spent in this haven of peace
Maybe providence meant us to stay.
But then destiny’s hand took us back whence we cane
To the land of my birth far away.
Separated by distance my thoughts wander back
Though a lifetime has flown with the years,
To this place and its people so dear in my heart
And nostalgia is mingled with tears.
I shall always remember the children my friends
They are ageless – it’s hard to explain.
Since I first sensed “The Spirit of Helmdon” from there
Young and beautiful still they remain.
Now, I ponder the people who lived long ago
Still the ancient stone cottages stand
Where for centuries now generations have dwelt
In this green and most beautiful land.
To the village allotments men toiled after work
With an eye to the children at play.
In their homes babes were born and the old folks passed on
Life went by as it still does today.
Very close to the earth and to nature they lived
Ever urgently turning each sod.
For the crops to be sown – with the harvest in sight
And the fervent dependence on God.
So on Sundays they trudged up the hill, step by step
To give thanks for the world that they knew…
To the sound of the church bells – hard work put aside
Expectations and hopes were so few.
Precious lives and its loves were important to them
As they worked with such passionate care
Meagre comforts at home – just the warmth of the hearth
But “The Spirit of Helmdon “ was there.
Now, what is it I see in the world today?
From so far, yet I watch as they live.
Still the new people have the same love of the place
So much time, work and energy to give.
There’s computers and web sites and faxes galore
For an oldie the words seem to fail.
But I’m thankful, so thankful they care as they do
And for things that they send in the mail.
So dear people of Helmdon, God bless your hard work
From a soul who passed quietly through
To have lived in your place for a moment of time
And to feel the same love that you do.
With our present and past like a tapestry’s threads
Woven into a picture remain.
Forever, this Helmdon with its history is ours
And our link with eternity’s chain.
How relentlessly, silently, time gathers pace.
So it seems as the years come and go.
Let us cherish our memories – treasures of time
It’s “The Spirit of Helmdon” you know.
Sent in by Joan Morris.
(From Helmdon Talkabout Autumn 2006)
The School History
In the September of 1894 three new children were admitted to the school, their names were Lewis Agnes, Harry Arnold Finch and Ethel Seckington. The headmaster at that time was Herbert Godwin who most probably lived in the school house. There were about 80 children in the school at that time. Written in the log book in October is the behaviour of a boy called John Gough it said “The boy John Gough gives us a lot of trouble and makes the other children worse”. Then on November 2nd it said “Punished John Gough for swearing at me”.
Some people say that children were better behaved the than they are now, but from reading the log book it seems to me that they were a lot cheekier then. I also found that we are much cleaner than the children 100 years ago. The number of children each week varied from 80 – 85, which is a smaller number that we have now. Even though the children got the cane it did not mean their behaviour would improve.
Katherine Gartside, aged 11.
(From Talkabout Spring 1993)
The Conservation Area
The conservation area is a very
special place to me.
It's a place where plants and
trees blow in the breeze.
You can hear the birds and the bees
dancing around the beautiful tender,
blossom tree.
The long grass trails among
my feet and back to where they
meet defeat,
The Ivy, tangling around the trees,
make a journey of worth-while
effort to reach the top
of the now covered,
now smothered,
once living,
once thriving tree.
Alex Thomas (Helmdon School)
(From Talkabout Autumn 1993) |