Page 9 - Moravian Messenger May 2020

Fulneck
It is not easy to report on events in Fulneck when everything is closed down in response to the Coronavirus crisis, because there is nothing happening. So, I am inclined to remember times when all was busy and there was laughter in the air.
I was not around in the 1920s when my great-grandfather, William Bramley, was taking part in an entertainment given by the residents in the Sunday School building, now the Comenius Centre. He was on stage to recite a poem and he tried to begin by announcing its title. 'The Lifeboat', he offered, then hesitated and began again. 'The Lifeboat' then a pause. From out of the darkness in the audience a voice said, 'Nay, Bramley, tha can't even launch it!'
The 1950s saw several of these entertainments, with various Fulneck characters taking part. My uncle, Harold Powell, was the cause of some worry to some of the more serious-minded Moravians in the audience. He was aware of the possible unsuitability of his act as singer and comedian. So, he began by introducing himself. He seemed to be saying that several people had been afraid he would be putting in jokes about sex as it was a subject he knew a lot about. In fact, he was an expert. He ought to be because he had been 'filling them with taties
Fetter Lane
Lessons from lockdown
At our last face-to-face service on 15th March, when our small group of members worshipped together (sitting well apart), I'm not sure all of us realised that the Easter traditions we value so highly would not take place this year. No gathering for evening Passion Week readings, no early morning Easter hymns in God's Acre with other London Moravians, no substantial Easter breakfast. But necessity being the mother of invention, our minister, Sr Claire, has got some of us wired up to Zoom, and others linked by receiving papers through the post, and phone calls all round. So, we will celebrate Easter as ever - different but no less heartfelt and sincere.
And if Easter is a time of trust and hope, then those
of us who live in this part of London, as I'm sure is the
case across the country, are witnessing acts of kindness
and collaboration that are inspiring. In north Kensington where I live (also the site of the Grenfell Tower tragedy), churches and our local mosque have teamed up with Age UK K&C and the Volunteer Centre, supported by the council, to make up parcels of food and toiletries for those who can't get out to brave the queues. All of this is being donated by residents and businesses. Our local charitable giving Foundation, the K&C Foundation has been raising significant amounts of money to support local charities to continue their core work once we've reached some
Gomersal
Due to the coronavirus situation, Br Michael Newman has set up a Fulneck and Gomersal Film Club on Facebook. Each week we all watch a chosen film, available through BBC iplayer, at a time to suit ourselves. We can then share our thoughts and
all afternoon'. He was of course talking about 'secks' which is the broad Yorkshire pronunciation of 'sacks'. He finished his act with a rendering of 'I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen' - to his wife, my mother's sister, Kathleen.
May Latrobe also took part. She once pretended to be my grandmother, Lily Norton, stranded at a bus stop on her way home from visiting her youngest daughter, Mary Hinchcliffe, who lived in York in those days. 'I've been waiting here an hour with no luck. Two buses have gone past but they were no good: they were both going to Duplicate.'
In the 1950s, aged about twelve, I watched a play in which my Aunt Muriel Fuller took part. Also, in the audience was the author, J.B. Priestley. The play was 'When We Are Married' and it had just been released for amateurs. He kindly gave us an adjudication afterwards and it was a resounding success. My mother ensured that I was introduced to him and he shook my hand. Later that year, at St. Lawrence Cricket Club, in the scorebox building, I was given a smacker of a kiss by 'Two-ton' Tessie O'Shea. After which I can truly say I was never the same again! Keep smiling!
Br David Ingham
level of safety. And of course, our local NHS is doing their usual sterling job. So many groups and individuals working together for the common good must raise our spirits in the weeks ahead.
Here's a cheerful photo of Holland Park in the spring, taken on one of my 'exercise' outings. We hope everyone had a happy Easter, in whatever way you could.
Sr Cynthia Dize
comments about it. So far, the group has 21 members who have watched the first film, The History Boys.
Sr Norma Machell
69
© Sr Cynthia Dize