Congratulations to James Cartlidge

James Cartlidge (right), with MEP Geoffrey Van Orden and Philip Mutton

A number of Conservatives got together today in Angie Rogers's lovely Bildeston garden, to congratulate our Member of Parliament James Cartlidge on being returned to Westminster with an increased majority and over 60% of the vote.

Given the events of recent days it would have been understandable if the atmosphere had been a little downbeat, but the general feeling was one of relative optimism, and a strong desire not to have to return to the campaign trail too soon!

James was looking forward to the meeting of the 1922 Committee tomorrow afternoon.

Bildeston Branch Chairman, Mike Creffield with raffle tickets

Meanwhile in Suffolk

David Cameron spends election eve supporting dementia charity.

It was strange on the eve of polling day to go to a dinner in London hosted by Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK),  and listen to a rousing speech from none other than David Cameron.

Mr Cameron has taken something of a low profile since he stepped down as Prime Minister almost a year ago.  I understand that he has been writing his memoirs and taking time for a well-deserved rest.  He certainly looked as though he was in good form yesterday evening, and I think he had lost a little weight!

The reason for his brief emergence into the public eye was that in January this year, Mr Cameron became the President of ARUK, the UK’s leading dementia research charity.  During his time in office he drove the subject of dementia higher up the world’s agenda by focussing on the issue as chairman of the G8 in 2013.  He also launched the charity’s five year £100m Defeat Dementia fundraising campaign, and led a government initiative to set up new research facilities at a number of academic centres in the UK.

Although most of his speech was taken up with dementia related topics, he did open proceedings by saying that it was odd not to be looking forward to attending his 'count’ tomorrow.  I did not sense that he was particularly worried about this however, as he recalled the pain of sitting on gym equipment in a school hall for hours waiting for the declaration of the results.

It is good to see David Cameron making this big commitment to fighting the disease that is now the number one killer of women and number two killer of men in the UK.

Alzheimer’s Research UK is one of the fastest growing medical research charities in the country, with a current £33m portfolio of projects underway at leading universities in the UK and around the world. Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2017, and with a research legacy of £80m across over 650 projects, the charity is at the forefront of global dementia research efforts. Its programmes include a world-first network of dementia Drug Discovery Institutes, innovative international partnerships between academia and industry, and award-winning public awareness campaigns, most recently Santa Forgot.

To learn more about ARUK click here.

Naked truth?

Blessed Maxim, a 14th century holy fool

'Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away..

Teresa May’s comments about Jeremy Corbyn’s metaphorical state of undress in the face of Brexit negotiations means that there is a lot in the press and on the wires today about nakedness.  I am indebted to today’s tweet from Archbishop Cranmer for a reminder of the quotation from the Book of Job above.

Travellers over the years have been impressed by nakedness encountered on their travels.  Elizabeth the First’s envoy to Russia, Giles Fletcher, was moved to comment on the naked ‘holy fools’ that he encountered in Moscow.

Besides monks they have certain eremites (whom they call holy men).....They used to go stark naked save a clout about their middle with their hair hanging long and wildly about their shoulders, and many of them with an iron collar, or chain about their necks or middles, even in the very extremity of winter.  These they take as prophets, and men of great holiness, giving them a liberty to speak what they list, without any controlment, though it may be to the very highest himself…

Of this kind there are not many, because it is a very hard and cold profession to go naked in Russia, specially in winter.’

I will be expanding on the idea of holy fools. both naked and clothed, and, indeed, other picturesque Russian characters, in a talk at Gainsborough’s House this autumn.

St Basil, a bas relief from St Basil's Cathedral, Moscow

Highly recommended Charity Concert.

Some of our most talented local musicians, including Great Waldingfield's own Elaine Henson, will be appearing in a concert in Sudbury on Saturday June 24th. Proceeds will go to Suffolk Children's Hospices.

Highly recommended!

Peanut thief

A visit to Cockfield

St Peter's Church, Cockfield.

My son Matthew has been staying with us this weekend, and yesterday we decided to visit the art event that continues today and tomorrow in Cockfield.

Before the visit we had a substantial lunch at the Horseshoes, an ancient inn on the Lavenham/Bury Road, which is always atmospheric, cool on a warm day,  and welcoming both to dogs and to humans.

We enjoyed the Art Show.  It was good to be able to catch up with some friends from the village and surrounding area, and there was a lot of art on display. I particularly liked the crafts section and was pleased to find a glass pendant to replace a favourite one, recently shattered.


Later we took the dog for a walk via the impressive building that is St Peter's Church.  We very much admired the adjacent former church house, an Elizabethan forerunner of the village hall, in which parish events were held following 16th century edicts against 'feasting in the church'.  The Church itself a fine 14th century tower from which apparently a rector in the 18th centuryused to use a telescope to view the night sky.  The gargoyles on the exterior depict ferocious devils.   Inside the church offers much of interest with decorated windows to the north aisle and perpendicular to the south.  There is a fine tie beam roof dating from the 15th century.


On the way home we dropped into the much smaller Church of St Mary at Thorpe Morieux.  In an attractive rural setting this dates from the late 13th Century.  Little sign of this period remains however, apart from one lancet window in the north aisle and an unusual font which stands on five columns.  This lovely thing is pictured below; I am not so sure about the wooden font cover.