With Hearts and Hymns and Voices

Pam Rhodes

Description

When the BBC Songs of Praise team decides to broadcast a Palm Sunday service from a small idyllic Suffolk village, not everyone is happy. The vicar, Clive, is amiably absent-minded, but his practical wife Helen gets on well with the television team - perhaps a little too well, where the charming, enigmatic Michael is concerned. Charles, the Parish Council chairman, is deeply opposed and resents the enthusiasm of other villagers - including his wife Betty. As the outside broadcast vehicles roll in, the emotional temperature rises...

Informations

• Publié par: Lion Hudson
• Date de parution: 15 octobre 2015
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781782641803
• Langue: English

Extrait

By the same author Fisher of Men Casting the Net If You Follow Me Saints and Sailors

 
 
Text copyright © 1996 Pam Rhodes This edition copyright © 2015 Lion Hudson
The right of Pam Rhodes to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
This edition published by Lion Fiction an imprint of Lion Hudson plc Wilkinson House, Jordan Hill Road Oxford OX2 8DR, England www.lionhudson.com/fiction
ISBN 978 1 78264 172 8 e-ISBN 978 1 78264 180 3
First edition published by Lion in 1996
Acknowledgments Extract on pp. 78–80 taken from the song “Be Still” by David J Evans. Copyright © 1986 Thankyou Music. Adm. By Capitol CMG Publishing worldwide excl. UK & Europe, admin by Integrity Music, part of the David C Cook family, [e-mail]
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Cover image © Chris Andrew
 
 
For Derek Tangye who inspired me to write as he inspires others to read
W HO’S W HO
In the village
Reverend Clive Linton Vicar of St Michael’s, Sandford
Helen Linton The vicar’s wife
Mrs Hadlow Elderly local busybody. Married to George; their daughter, Rosemary, works occasionally in The Bull Hotel in the village
Ivy Mrs Hadlow’s friend and constant companion. She is not very talkative and finds it difficult to walk
Charles Waite Chairman of the Parish Council, churchwarden, local amateur historian
Betty Waite married to Charles, has been the choirmistress and organist at St Michael’s for years
Jack Diggens Lonely accounts clerk, who has recently retired
Don Birch Runs the Village Store with his wife, Joan
Anna Birch Their daughter, a very talented singer, still in her teens and at school.
Matthew Gregory sixteen-year-old schoolboy, who is keen on Anna and the technical side of broadcasting
Major James and Marjorie Gregory Matthew’s parents. The Major is on the Parish Council, and influential locally. Marjorie is not a regular churchgoer but is desperate to get a ticket for the recording
Margaret Abbot A harpist and music teacher from the neighbouring village of Steepleton, who becomes friendly with Jack Diggens
Reverend Stephen Yearling Baptist minister at Steepleton – he has a wife, Wendy, and children Luke and Stephanie – interviewed on Village Praise
Reverend Norman Oates A larger-than-life local Methodist minister, married to Marion
Reverend Walter Millar Retired local vicar. Beryl is his wife.
Bill and Maureen Proprietors of The Bull Hotel
Stanley and Eric Regulars in the Public Bar at The Bull
Brian and Ellen Owners of Grove House, Bed and Breakfast hotel for the BBC Production Team
David Hughes Farmer at Dinton, with his wife, Karen, and their five-year-old son, Michael. He owns two donkeys, Doreen and Denis, who are auditioned for the Palm Sunday procession
Bunty Maddocks Active and tireless church worker. Head of the Ladies’ Prayer Group and the Ladies’ Flower Arranging Group
Iris Baker Hairdresser and owner of the Hair Salon in Sandford High Street
Grace and Madge Members of the Ladies’ Flower Arranging Circle
Dorothy Jolly, cuddly customer at Iris’ Hair Salon
Debbie Receptionist at the Hair Salon
Colin Brown Talented organist from nearby Stowmarket who runs his own estate agency
Pete Durrell Editor of The Herald , the local newspaper
Bob Evans Reporter on The Herald
Dee and Chris Stevens Born-again Christians with two children, Daniel and Naomi, considered as possible interviewees for the programme.
Mrs Hulme Daunting choirmistress of St Mark’s Church Choir from Stowmarket
Bill Hewitt Organizer of the Saxmundham Songsters
Sidney West Bad-tempered, bossy elderly man who regularly goes off-shore in a small boat with his friends Frank and Bo, to sing hymns and read the Bible
Mike Hallam Organizer of ‘Out and About’, which arranges countryside outings for people hampered by disability or circumstances
Mary Denby Disabled young mother. Enthusiastic supporter of the ‘Out and About’ project. Interviewed for Village Praise
Mrs Rose Smith Patronizing organizer of the Women’s Institute Choir
Mrs Gearing Headmistress of Sandford Junior Mixed Infants School
Gregory and Jessica Children at Sandford School
Brenda Member of St Mark’s Choir
 
In the Television Crew
Jan Harding Producer of Village Praise
Sue Production assistant, who arranges schedules, accommodation, timings for the whole production, and is a regular churchgoer at her home in Salford
Simon Martin Engineering manager, with overall responsibility for technical requirements, including the lighting of the church
Frank Harris Sound supervisor
Kate Marsden Researcher
Ian Spence Musical director
Sarah Ian’s girlfriend, a professional flautist
Richard Newham Musical Adviser
Roger Harwood Director of location and church recording
Ros Denham Attractive and efficient floor manager
Joe Security man whose caravan always has tea on the brew and the biscuit barrel open
Michael Sheehan Irish Rigger/Driver
Des and Charlie Riggers
Jim and Terry Electricians (sparks)
Keith Location cameraman
Bob Location sound man
Pam Rhodes Village Praise presenter. Her husband is Paul, and her two children are Max, aged eleven, and Bethan, five
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
FRIDAY: 5 FEBRUARY
WEDNESDAY: 10 FEBRUARY
SUNDAY: 14 FEBRUARY
TUESDAY: 16 FEBRUARY
WEDNESDAY: 17 FEBRUARY
FRIDAY: 19 FEBRUARY
FRIDAY: 19 FEBRUARY
SUNDAY: 21 FEBRUARY
MONDAY: 22 FEBRUARY
TUESDAY: 23 FEBRUARY
SATURDAY: 27 FEBRUARY
MONDAY: 1 MARCH
THURSDAY: 11 MARCH
MONDAY: 15 MARCH
TUESDAY: 16 MARCH
WEDNESDAY: 17 MARCH
THURSDAY: 18 MARCH
FRIDAY: 19 MARCH
SUNDAY: 21 MARCH
MONDAY: 22 MARCH
TUESDAY: 23 MARCH
WEDNESDAY: 24 MARCH
THURSDAY: 25 MARCH
FRIDAY: 26 MARCH
SATURDAY: 27 MARCH
SUNDAY: 28 MARCH
MONDAY: 29 MARCH
TUESDAY: 30 MARCH
WEDNESDAY: 31 MARCH
THURSDAY: 1 APRIL
FRIDAY: 2 APRIL
SATURDAY: 3 APRIL
SUNDAY: 4 APRIL
FRIDAY
5 F EBRUARY
When the phone rang, she almost missed it. She was down in the cellar, digging out crepe paper supplies for the Sunday school youngsters, and although she heard it ring, Helen ignored it. Clive was in – let him get it.
By the time she realized he was ignoring it too, and she’d climbed over the cat basket and a line of wellington boots to clamber up the stairs, Helen was breathless as she grabbed the phone.
‘Hello, St Michael’s Vicarage, I’m sorry!’
‘I’m not,’ said a woman’s voice, with a slightly musical lilt to it. Was it Scottish? ‘St Michael’s Vicarage is what I’m after. Is the vicar there?’
‘Well, he should be,’ said Helen, craning her neck to peer into Clive’s study, ‘but apparently not. What time is it? He’s got a funeral at ten-thirty this morning – he’s probably gone over to the church. Can I help? I’m his wife.’
‘I’m sure you can. I’d like to fix a time to come and chat to him. I’m going to be down your way on Wednesday afternoon – I just wondered if he’s got any time free then?’
Definitely Scottish, Helen thought.
‘Well, I don’t know of anything booked for that afternoon, but that doesn’t mean a thing. I’ll get him to ring you back, if you like. Can I tell him who called?’
Helen tucked the receiver under her chin as she reached for the pen, attached with sellotape and string to the phone, and searched for a corner of paper that wasn’t already written on.
‘My name is Jan Harding. I’m a producer at the BBC. I want to look into the possibility of doing a Songs of Praise from Sandford.’
Helen’s pen came to a halt in mid-air.
‘Can I leave my number, and perhaps your husband – it’s the Reverend Clive Linton, isn’t it?’
‘That’s right.’
‘Do you think he could ring me later today? I’d like to get things moving.’
Helen seized the pen again, and scribbled down the number. ‘I’ll pass the message on. He’ll probably get back to you in an hour or so. Bye.’
Helen replaced the receiver, and stared at the phone. What an extraordinary call! Songs of Praise , here? Sleepy little Sandford, population eight hundred, and shrinking? Sandford, on a road that probably went somewhere once, but no one could quite remember why. This was a backwater, a place seldom found except by accident – and for most of the locals, except perhaps the ones who wouldn’t mind a bit more B & B business, that was just fine.
Helen chuckled. Wait till Bunty heard! Think how she’d set up four committees just to organize the summer fête! Something like this would keep her happily harassed and indispensable for weeks!
That reminded her – the Parish Magazine. Bunty had already rung twice, first to remind, and then to demand, that Clive get his intro over to her by yesterday at the latest. This morning, he’d promised he would closet himself in the study first thing, and get it done.
What was the time? Helen glanced at her watch. Five to ten. Wherever was he?
Dear Clive – so well-meaning, so willing to offer, so often to disappoint. For a man whose life was structured by services and meetings, time seemed to have surprisingly little relevance. He just forgot. As his thoughts took him on to heady spiritual heights, the worldly business of getting on with the day simply faded from his mind. He never meant to let anyone down, or cause confusion. He hadn’t a hurtful bone in his body. He simply forgot. And what he forgot, Helen – good old reliable Helen – always remembered, and organized around him.
Helen reached for her coat, and glanced at her reflection in the hallstand mirror. Her cheeks were flushed. Simmering frustration always left her that way, and nowadays, it seemed to her that frustration was all she ever felt w