Countryside Matters

This was a splendid occasion for the couple concerned and for all their friends. It taught me that there were endless possibilities in this ministry. I have made many contacts also on the two occasions that I was invited by the travellers themselves to the Horse Fair at Stow on the Wold.

At Stow I was invited by some of the members of Light and Life to join in with a tent mission at the fair. My big problem at the moment is being able to leave my parish responsibilities to do some of this work.

My most recent exploit was to go and live with travellers for a week of my holiday.

I set out with a small tent to the old coach road above Weymouth and arrived at the drove in the late afternoon. The weather was wet and misty. There were about four small trailers and two bowtops at the site. I was warmly welcomed by David and his family, ushered into the Vardo and given hot oat cakes. These are made with oats, olive oil, salt and raisins and dry cooked in a pan over the fire. That night they would not let me sleep in the tent as it was so damp. One of the families doubled up and lent me their trailer . The next morning was bright and sunny so after breakfast I had resolved to put up my tent . I was told that as I was their guest they would rather that I slept in the trailer for the rest of the week.
Most of the day was spent talking to different travellers who drifted in to sell horses or visit family . I learned so much in the time I spent with them. Every night I spent singing and playing my guitar.

Travellers are great musicians. This in turn has led me to more contacts in the folk music world and I go from time to time to visit a folk club in Dorset with some of the travellers When I left at the end of the week one of the young travellers said to me 'You have brought something really special to us here, a real sense of peace. You must come again for you are one of us now'. I was deeply touched by this. They handed me a walking stick like a shepherds crook made of hazel and carved with a horse's head on the top. I shall treasure it forever. I felt that in some small way I had commenced the task which God had ordained me to do as a priest.
I have written a full account of the week that I spent with my travelling friends . If any would like to study this journal I would be only to pleased to photo copy it .

If you wish to have any detailed information about traveller culture or if you are a traveller with pastoral or spiritual needs please do contact me :

Rev'd Roger Charles Redding.
The Vicarage
Ebbesbourne Wake
Salisbury
Wilts.SP5 5JL .
Telephone & Fax (01722) 780408 ,
E -Mail : rreddi@rreddebes55.freeserve.co.uk