Page 20 - link magazine

20 THE CHURCH

'The Tregoze family, whose name TROISGOTS
was added to that of Lydiard to John Flory, member of the West Swindon Ecumenical staff team. recently visited Normandy
distinguish it from the adjoining with Jean Flory to re-discover West Swindon's ancient connection with France.
parish of Lydiard Millicent came FRESHBROOK
from a village in Normandy called
Troisgots.' GAMES
Thus reads the guide to Lydiard
Park and Church that I obtained Sat. Sep. 5th 2-5pm
from the mansion on my appoint- AT THE SCHOOL FIELD
ment as Rector of the Lydiards FOR ALL THE FAMILY
five years ago. Two years earlier, COMPETITIONS - A RUN
Tony Jepps, Chairman of the REFRESHMENTS
Lydiard Tregoze Parish Council, PRIZES GIVEN AT 4.30 pm
had visited Troisgots with his, Run commences at 200pm for
wife, and some thought was given those over 14 who have registered
to starting a link between the two in advance.
For further information ring:
communities - originally con- SWINDON 694157,695012 or 693146
nected by a Norman knight seven Organised by Freshbrook Evangelical Church
hundred years ago.
There followed some corres-
pondence between a thirteen and I crossed the channel on the sequently rebuilt in the original of his home brewed Calvados.
year old French girl and my pre- Truckline ferry from Poole to style, and overlooks another part Normandy cider is a special ex-
decessor, who was asked to find Cherbourg, and motored the sixty of the community clustered round perience!
a Lydiard pen friend of similar miles to the little village of another church - La Chapelle- They are interested in a twin-
age. I don't know if anything Troisgots, just south of St Lo. sur-Vire, beside the river. Pil- ning arrangement with Tregoze,
came of this. There we were made very wel- grims have come here for almost although I think I managed to
During the last five years, I come and were generously enter- 700 years to venerate the Virgin convince them in schoolboy
have responded to occasional tained over the weekend by my Mary. Here there is the special French that our village no longer
letters from a lady who has a correspondent and the local needs school, an inn where the existed! Perhaps by the time they
degree in English and is married Mayor. food is good, and, it is believed, come, our Wick farm archaeolo-
to the deput Head of a special Troisgots folk are chiefly em- the site of a Norman castle. gists will have at least uncovered
needs school for girls in Troisgots, ployed in farming. The village is The origin of the name 'Trois- the site where it used to be. They
telling her all about the western on high ground with the parish gots' is hotly disputed between asked for a football match - and
expansion of Swindon. We both church on a bluff above the valley the parish priest and the present all we could offer was croquette.
hoped one day to exchange visits of the river Vire. During the last Mayor's father. Monsier Roger They hoped for a student ex-
and our opportunity came this war it's tower was used as a Mourocq gave us a signed copy change and here it is possible
summer. German O.P and so was a target of his treatise on the subject, that Greendown School might be
One Saturday in June, my wife for the Allies artillery. It was sub- together with a generous sample interested.

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
YOU'VE GOT TO FACE rr SOMETIME A MONTH IN
WHY NOT NOW?
WEST SWINDON
Too many of us defer making any financial arrangements by John Hibberd
for our later years, and are unable to enjoy retirement to "Where are you going for your beginnings. I hope that the village
the full, because of a restricted budget.
summer placement?" centres will help to create a sense
Now is a good time to explore the many options available "West Swindon", I said. of community as the development
and secure financial security, before it is too late. "Where's that?" continues, the 'Link' magazine
Boldly I hazarded a guess. impressed me, and was certainly
Services include: "Near Swindon. . . although I'm a great help in giving me an in-
Life Assurance * Private Pensions * not sure if it's built yet." troduction to West Swindon.
Mortgages * Investments * Savings * "Which church will you be The churches too have re-
working with?" sponded to the new development.
Phone me now, at no obligation, on
SWINDON 874355 or 615829 "Well . . . five of them in all Shaw, Westlea and Toothill
SUE DAVIES - YOUR LOCAL CONTACT. actually, with clergy and people churches are directly a response
from at least three different de- to it, while St Mary's and All
nominations." Saints are also beginning to
This was the sort of conversa- relate to the new community
tion that I had with people nearby. It was exciting to see that
before I came to West Swindon the Anglican, Methodist, Baptist
at the beginning of July. Part of and United Reformed Churches
my training as a theological have all gathered together to
student involves a month-long present a united living demon-
placement with a church to learn stration of the love of God in
what it is all about in the big wide West Swindon. So you can be
world. So, what have I seen? sure of a welcome whatever de-
My church involvement has nomination you come from - or
included Lydiard Millicent, so even if you have no church back-
I've seen village life, as well as ground, as was true of me five
relatively established areas, such years ago. Wherever you are in
as Toothill, and brand new hous- West Swindon you're not far
ing in Shaw being occupied every from a church, so why not go
day. The overall impression is along and see what they are up
one of change and exciting new to?