12th Bridge Parish Council Meeting, The Hunter Room, 7.30pm
14th Bridge Village Féte
Pray for Susan Welch and Charles Cooper on their wedding day.
15th Third Sunday after Trinity Pentecost 4
17th Bridge with Patrixbourne WI, Village Hall, 7pm
20th Junior Church Bring & Buy, 12 High Street, 1.30 - 3.30pm
21st lljray for Christopher Burge and Rosina Martins to marry at Patrix-
ourne.
22nd Fourth Sunday after Trinity Pentecost 5
24th Birth of St. John the Baptist
28th St. Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, Martyr, c.200
29th St. Peter the Apostle, Patron Saint of Bridge and Bekesbourne
Charles Addison Potter
The death of Charles Potter at the age of 79
and after a long illness has left the entire
community that much poorer, and Patrix-
bourne and Bridge Churches have lost their
leading member and supporter. On The Nail
pays tribute to a true churchman and a
perfect gentleman by means of an apprec-
 ,.   iation from one of his oldest friends and
»  extracts from the address at the Service of
.   Thanksgiving on 14th May at Bridge.
 , One day during the war when I was coming
asked if I could give him a lift to Bridge. This
 5 ~  home from Barham a Very tall figure in khaki
 Was my first meeting with Charles Potter-
  Afler the War he Came to Fie|d House, Where
C'“"‘“A‘P°“"' Mrs. Money used to live. Our two families
grew up together and he became one of my closest friends. He had an
excellent fruit farm at Challock and was one of the founders of East Kent
Packers. My wife and daughters have warm memories of cherry picnics
which always finished with a tractor ride around the orchards. At Cambridge
he rowed for Trinity Hall and I can imagine him pulling the boat along with
total commitment. Later he coached the crew and I can see him whirling
along the towpath shouting instructions which must have galvanized them
into action. In sport he gave everything he had got to the task in hand. At
tennis his fierce first service was an ace when it got in, which it did not always
do. At squash he played himselfto a standstill, and at croquet he was a model
of concentration. In public affairs he was equally dedicated. For many years
he served as a churchwarden and member of the P.C.C. and was treasurer to
the P.C.C. and to the East Bridge Deanery Synod, and was chairman of the
Diocesan Advisory Committee. I am not a committee man, so I have to rely on
what others tell me, but I am assured that he delighted in committees and
used to try to instruct the P.C.C. on economics, with the aid of a blackboard.
At social gatherings he always stood out among the crowd and I would
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But those who thought Charles’s religion was all on the surface and to do
with money did not know him. He was a true believer and was always ready
to enlarge his understanding of the faith. His communion meant a lot to him,
especially after the stroke, and I sensed that although the words would not
come the prayers were there. He could still speak to his Lord.
Charles Potter was a great man — and I don’t believe that is any exagger-
ation. He has left his mark on so many areas of life that it is hard to single out
any one as being more prominent than another. I know it is often said on these
occasions, but in this instance it is a truth which all can substantiate, that in
Charles we had the privilege of knowing a fine, upright figure of a man, a
perfect gentleman, whose like we shall not see again.
>I< * =I<
A private funeral at Patrixbourne preceded cremation on 2nd May, Charles’s
ashes being subsequently laid to rest in St. Mary’s Churchyard. Also on 2nd
May the ashes of Mrs. Sjoukje Feitsma-Telenga, mother of Mrs. Tineke
Jackson, were interred in Bridge Churchyard after cremation in her native
Holland. Readers will also wish to extend their sympathy to Mr. and Mrs.
Reg. Harvey, ll Green Court on the sad death after a very long and painful
illness of their daughter Rosemary.
Canterbury Waits at Patrixbourne
The Canterbury Waits are a distinguished group of musicians who
concentrate on early music, which they play on authentic instruments of the
period. On Saturday, 28th June The Canterbury Waits are coming to give a
concert in St. Mary’s Church, Patrixbourne. Entitled “The Mediaeval
Sound” the programme will comprise Italian, German and English music of
the 13th and 14th centuries, and in addition the Waits Will speak about their
instruments. As a further bonus churchwarden John Williamson will give a
talk on the church. ’
This promises to be a thoroughly delightful summer’s evening of general
appeal, not something purely for the specialist —— a musical experience in a
perfect setting. In order to meet expenses there will be a charge for admission,
payable at the door, of £1.50 for adults and 75p for children. Any money
raised in excess will go to the church repair fund. The concert begins at
7.30pm.
Junior Church News
During Lent the children gave up some of their toys (books, games, soft toys,
etc.) and on Sunday, 27th April Mrs. Penny Spencer along with Katy and
Wendy Spiller, Elizabeth Walder and Louisa Fagg took them along to the
children’s ward of the Kent & Canterbury Hospital. The sister was very
pleased. These toys came from the children themselves — they really entered
into Lent very generously. We had six carrier bags full, one very large bear
and a doll’s cradle.
The children have also been writing letters and drawing pictures to send to
Africa. Mrs. Young came along one morning to Junior Church and told us
about Save the Children Fund. She showed us letters that she had received
from the children, so we thought it would be a good idea if the children in
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