In which I wander through some recent memories and remember a day when I dashed from church to church, taking in a horse and carriage ride, blessings, ponies and a baptism and another day and year when I planted a tree. This was all in memory of Queen Elizabeth the Second. I remember and wonder where that woman (the 2020 version of me) has gone.
It was a warm September Sunday when she removed her church robes and put on a black jacket over her black clerical shirt and black skirt decorated with red flowers. With black tights and polished shoes, she hoped she looked smart enough for a smart gathering to honour the memory of Queen Elizabeth the Second, who had died on September 8th 2022.
Every village of which she was the vicar took this news to heart. They followed all the official guidelines and also came up with very personal ways to mark Her Majesty’s passing and show their respect, gratitude and affection.
The late queen was very fond of fell ponies, especially her own pony, Emma, and one village organised a walk of fell ponies. It was this event for which the vicar dressed smartly.
She finished the morning service in one village, jumped into her car and drove along winding roads to a lay by where she left her car and ran to join the procession. Everyone was dressed splendidly in jodhpurs, riding jackets and colourful trilby hats complete with feathers. As the vicar caught up with everyone, she was helped onto a carriage seat, complete with a blanket and driven the rest of the way to St George the Martyr Church, North and South Clifton.
Once there, outside the lychgate, the beautiful ponies and their stunning owners made a circle, and the vicar gave thanks for the life of the Queen. She blessed the animals and the walk they were undertaking. When she had greeted everyone, she got into a Land Rover and was driven back to her own car in the lay by.
She drove herself back to All Saints’ Church in Collingham where she put her robes back on and greeted the family and friends of the baby whom she would then baptise.
She did this without getting out of breath.
In November 2023, the honouring of the life of Queen Elizabeth the Second was still continuing. The vicar found herself at a village fete in Collingham. She lost money on the scouts’ tombola, bought more unnecessary second hand books and admired the demonstration of pet dogs dancing with their owners.
The highlight of that fete was the planting of a tree which would be dedicated to the memory of the Queen.
The vicar was handed a spade and she dug the hole, made sure that the sapling was firmly secured and prayed a prayer of dedication for it and blessing for the whole village.
Within a few months of that day, the vicar had retired.
Well, all this is true and I was that vicar. Why did I write about it as though I was writing about someone else? Well, to be honest, it feels like someone else. Continually going from one thing to another and changing emphasis and mood is something I remember doing but it doesn’t feel quite real!
I’m glad I’ve been able to do that and now I’m glad I don’t do it anymore!
How do you feel when you remember what you did years ago? Do you wish you were doing the same now or are you glad it’s all behind you?
What do you miss?
I’d love to hear!
Wander Well,
Mandy.
Things I love:
- A village fete.
- A Lychgate.
- Blessings.
