Sat 10 Sep – Ride & Stride – Heritage Open Days

Leonard Clark Heritage Open Day

Leonard Clark loved the Forest. It was the natural beauty of the Forest that entranced him as a young man, inspiring his poetry. For him, the Forest landscape, trees and ecology were a thing of outstanding beauty, something wonderful and spellbinding. His early poems featured Abbotts Wood, Chestnut Wood and Flaxley. He loved the great beeches in Chestnut Wood and was distraught to find it cut down when timber was needed in WWII. He wrote: ‘I was brought up in a forest, which means, if you like forests, that trees become part of you, your brothers and sisters, as it were. The trees of my forest became part of me, so that even now I must live where trees are; I pale when I hear that one is to be cut down. I become a different creature when I move among trees; their woody spirit seems to enter into me. I inherit their silence: I breathe more freely in a forest than on any windy moor or exposed sea shore.’

He remained devoted to the people of the Forest all his life. He was brought up by a foster mother on Belle Vue Road, in an intensely loving family. He shared the grief of losing a step brother in the First World War. The family worshipped at St Stephen’s Church and it was the community of the church and Cinderford that made him feel secure and safe. In 1965, looking back on his childhood in his autobiographical Fool in the Forest, He wrote: ‘the Forest of dean, that place of my happy, if uncertain, youth – those far off, shining years of forty years ago, when I thought…..all things abided eternally as they were in their proper places.’

Leonard Clark’s highly successful career took him to Devon, Yorkshire and finally to London where he died. In his later years he wrote some of his most eloquent poetry about the Forest. He longed for his old home and the tress, and was nostalgic for the past, recognising Cinderford had changed, and yet found its draw irresistible. He wrote: ‘The river still curves to the sea, The woodlands throb with song, But the town has changed, More prosperous, cosmetic, Almost like any other town. I remember its drabness but also its pride; the faces of the colliers have all been washed white, and something fierce and passionate gone. My hope is I am given a last sight of it all, Skies, fields, riverbank and glade, Before I am finally tidied up for the night.’ His wish was granted, he made one last visit to Cinderford with his son Robert, and after seeing his favourite places, asked him to bring his ashes back to Cinderford and St Stephen’s Church, where they rest today.

As part of the Heritage Open Day events across the country, there will be an exhibition of Leonard Clark’s books, information about his life and recordings of him reading his work from 10.00 am – 4.00 pm on Saturday 10 September at St Stephen’s. The organisers are aware that many parishioners knew Leonard Clark, may have corresponded with him or have insights into his life and would be very pleased to meet with you on the day and see any memorabilia.

Historic Churches Trust Ride & Stride

The Historic Churches Trust Annual Sponsored Ride & Stride takes place on Saturday 10 September. The national event is supported locally by the Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust (GHCT).

Various churches around the county will be open and the event encourages people to try and visit as many as they can either cycling, walking, horse-riding or even driving. As the idea is to raise money for your local church as well as GHCT, the aim is to be sponsored whilst ‘collecting churches.’

St Ethelbert’s, Littledean is supporting the event (as they have done for many years) and will be open from 10.00 am – 1.00 pm. Refreshments will be available along with a book sale. Jim Duffin (and maybe also his son-in-law) will be on an  exercise bike ‘riding’ the distance between local churches and would welcome sponsors.

Members of St John’s will be walking around Gloucester City centre churches; they will be collecting sponsorship as a team for the churches they ‘collect’ on their travels. Whilst St John’s will not be open, there will be a sheet on the door for people to record their attendance at the church.

St Stephen’s will be open from 10.00 am – 4.00 pm, with refreshments being served. There’s also a Leonard Clark exhibition that day (see below). Andy Cole and Chris Witham will be riding between churches in the Forest and would welcome sponsors.

If you’re interested in riding or striding, sponsoring any of the individuals or teams or for more details please contact a churchwarden.