#385: Paris Metro opened 123 years ago today
Bertie here once more, back with all of the longevity of Indiana Jones, and ready to drop wisdom like a tray of plates on the floor of your kitchen-diner. Here it is- all you need to know… in some bullet points…
starting with this delightful epistle from Bertie and Jane’s trip to Wimbledon last week… and introducing Bertie’s new friend, Christopher…
Church keeps on happening in the summer, so do come along- or log in… this week we have 8, 9.30, 10 and 11. Lots of choice, lots of chances, see you then! Don’t forget to bring a cake to sell for Madagascar and some money with which to buy a tasty slice of lemon drizzle to support Bishop Hall’s Diocese. There is a programme on ITV tonight (Wednesday) at 9pm with Joana Lumley visiting Madagascar so do look out for that too.
Please note that there will be a lunchtime ORGAN recital at Reading Minster on Friday 21st July, given by Christopher Cipkin. The event starts as usual at 12.30pm. Admission free with a retiring collection.
Coffee and Chat this week is at The Rose Inn from 2 to 4pm, because the Art Exhibition (which is well worth a visit) is happening in the Parish Rooms.
If you are away for the summer, congratulations, and do bring back a postcard and any great ideas we would steal… and do send our love and prayers to our sisters and brothers in Christ there too.
July Lucky Numbers are here!
The Lucky Numbers draw for June took place at St Nicholas after Communion on Sunday, 16th July 2023.
Congratulations to the lucky winners who were:
£50 # 51 Revd Jane Kraft
£25 # 85  Frances Self
£15 # 79 Janet & David Charlton
£10 # 28 Yvonne Pett-Ridge
One share (number) costs £24 per year, and you can have as many shares as you wish. Funds remaining after the distribution of the prizes go to the Restoration Fund, for repairs and renewals to the church building.
For more information, please contact Tony Roberts (979 5351), Liz Gallagher (989 1176) or Mary Cassidy (979 5096) – or talk to Mary at St Paul’s, or Tony or Liz at St Nicholas’.
Teri has sent this report on what might be happening to station ticket offices…
The UK’s train operators are planning to close almost every station ticket office over the next three years and convert them into retail units or residential accommodation; staff, seemingly, will roam the stations to provide assistance to passengers. Their justification for this move is that only one in eight tickets is currently bought from a ticket office; this is still a substantial mount of tickets 118,000,000 per year and a reasonable percentage of those purchased.
It is of concern that closing ticket offices will disadvantage elderly and disabled passengers, those who are visually impaired and have difficulty in using touchscreens; those who have no other way of getting about except public transport. Also, a ticket office is a point of contact for any traveller needing information not provided by technology and is easily found on a station concourse, including guide dogs.
As discussed earlier, there is a template letter of objection on the website of the charity Transport For All: www.transportforall.org.uk. I would urge everyone to have a look and, indeed, to sign this petition.
I’m not sure the government have any say in this. Because the rail companies are privately managed (albeit providing a public service) they have the legal wriggle-room to push forward this decision.
Don’t forget the excellent concert happening on the 29th of July in Church…
