Carols & Readings Dec 14th

The annual Festival of Carols and Readings, given by the East Hampshire Federation of the Townswomen’s Guild, took place this afternoon at Fareham’s St.John the Evangelist Church.

Along with the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, the Mayor of Gosport and the Deputy Mayor and Consort from Fareham, we were welcomed by the Chairman, Mrs. Fay Goble and by Reverend Peter Hall, the Vicar of St. John’s.

The Townswomen’s Guild Choir, under the direction of ex-Havant Mayoress Beryl Francis, sang carols both alone and with the large congrgation. Beryl also accompanied the choir on the piano, and the organ was played by Derek Fry.

There were several readings, both biblical and non-biblical, followed by the Chairman’s Christmas message and a blessing from Reverend Hall and, finally, the Townswomen’s Guild National Anthem, “I am a Small Part of the World”.

A hot drink and biscuits were served in the church hall, along with the chance to meet up with old friends.

Jane Austen Dec 13th

As Elaine was busy at a planning meeting, I went to the Christmas meeting of the friends of the Havant museum on my own.

Rosemary Culley, the membership secretary of the Jane Austen Society, was the guest speaker, and gave an interesting talk, with slides, on the life of Jane Austen and other members of her, rather large, family.

Mention was made of the various places connected with the Austen family, many of them well known, including Downe, Ashe, Steventon and, of course, Chawton. There was also the fact that Jane’s brother Sir Francis Austen, lived in Widley at Portsdown Lodge, which later became Boundary Oak School.

The family is also linked with the reputedly much haunted Wymering Manor, and Sir Francis Austen is buried nearby in the graveyard of St Peter & St Paul Church.