Reflections Blog

THOMAS PATRICK VEASEY - 7th February 1927 - 6th January 2020 

Always known and will be remembered as Pat Veasey of Gosmore Cross. As I write this “Cross” does not seem to be the word that accurately describes a very patient man who never seemed to become annoyed, lose his temper nor was ever heard to swear. He was indeed a Gentleman. 

Pat was a family man and was never happier than when he was with his family, at home and in his garden. A garden for Pat was one that could supply an abundant amount of fruit and vegetables for the family. 

Born in Buntingford, on 7.2.27 (very proud of that) a Hertfordshire man through and through, Pat‟s early education was with a family governess before Prep school followed by Haileybury where he excelled in Maths and Chemistry. Lawn tennis parties, billiards, table tennis and later croquet were sports that Pat enjoyed at home. He did explain that at rugby football he made an art of moving away from the ball while appearing to run towards it! Many weekends Pat would cycle from Haileybury to his home in Buntingford 

a distance of about 14 miles, where the family played all kinds of board and card games - much more enjoyable than school. 

From school in 1945 Pat was called up for National Service and joined the Royal Signals. The army sent him to Oxford before posting him to Palestine where his natural ability to make and mend was honed in a difficult environment. During this time he was Mentioned in Despatches. 

Joining Wayne Kerr in Surrey, he quickly made his name as a very bright electronics engineer. English Electric, subsequently British Aerospace, called and he became a key specialist involved with missiles and especially with guidance systems, suddenly finding himself on 24 hour call out during the Falklands War. While working at the forefront of the ever expanding and developing electronics industry the company patented some of Pat‟s designs. Pat was given early retirement in 1989. 

While all this was going on Pat married Jennifer in 1955. The family soon increased with the arrivals of Susan, John, Charles and Jane. Family holidays in the Isle of Wight and cruising on the canals were particularly cherished with memories of packing the garden spade ready to build “proper sandcastles” on the beach in the Isle of Wight. When cruising, the family were organised from 6am. and ready to open locks in advance so that few other canal boats could pass them or travel further in the allotted 7 days. He had a love of steam trains, building model railways (“0” and “00” gauge) and taking amateur cine films. 

Pat was very much a make and mend character and if he did not initially have the knowledge he would research the subject, understand it and then put into practice what he had read. Helping with the hog roast for the 900th anniversary, supplying a Christmas tree each year and joining the panels together for the pew cushions were just a few of the things he did to support the church. Pat was elected to the Parish Council in April 1990 and served as an effective and committed Chairman from May 2000 until he retired in May 2007 at the age of 80. 

Pat, a man of many interests and accomplishments, it has been a pleasure to know you. You leave us with very happy memories - not forgetting the rhubarb passed over the hedge - thank you. 

Ken Holden 

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FROM DARKNESS INTO LIGHT 

I made a rare visit to London at the start of February for a travel exhibition at Olympia. As a country bumpkin I usually avoid the place like the plague but you don't waste free tickets to such an event so off we went on the train for the day. You pass through seven tunnels between here and Kings Cross (excluding the final ones into the terminus) and in each case you explode from darkness into light; at least in these days of electric trains there isn't the choking pollution of the steam era but the contrast is very noticeable. 

March is about a transition from darkness to light. Winter is finally coming to an end, having dragged its weary length interminably over the past four months. Spring flowers may have softened the blow this year by arriving early but the darkness and cold have only just started to relent. Now spring is imminent, that season of rebirth after the apparent death of the winter months. Time to have the mower serviced, to prune the roses, to see green shoots on trees, to witness reawakening, to do the garden again. For me spring is the most wonderful season of the year, with the promise of summer ahead with all that that stands for - 

I am very much a summer person rather than a winter one. 

For the Christian Church, March marks the season of Lent, a transition from the Christmas to the Easter season. Most people associate Lent with giving things up and nothing but good can come from that (as long as it doesn't include giving up church attendance!). But this is a time of preparation, of looking ahead to Holy Week and on to Easter. We prepare ourselves spiritually for the tragedy that is the trial and death of Jesus Christ the Son of God, that darkest day in all history. But three days later darkness turns to light in Christ rising again to conquer death, bringing light and hope to all as they contemplate the end of their own lives or mourn those they love. The Church mirrors the season of the year in its theme of darkness becoming light, apparent death leading to rebirth - so this is very much a springtime season for it. This month we look forward to the events that lead up to that tragedy that is Holy Week. As spring reaches its climax next month darkness leads to light - in both the natural and in the spiritual sense. 

Very best wishes, Paul Lanham 

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The New Year didn’t start too well for me......I caught the dreaded lurgy over Christmas and it chased me into the first part of the year, making me sleep for hours and still wake up tired (not to mention grumpy!).  The result of this is that I am still playing ‘catch-up’ with my admin and my enthusiasm seems to have gone on a long holiday!!

I was moaning about all of this to my eldest daughter Lauren yesterday, saying I didn’t know what I was going to do about it and adding that I had this article for PAX to write, the Editor’s deadline had already passed and I was feeling guilty for keeping her waiting but that I was really struggling for anything to write about.  ‘What about New Year’s resolutions?’ said Lauren, ‘we all make a vain attempt at them.’  ‘No point’, I replied ‘mine’s always the same - get better at admin - and it lasts about a week!!’  ‘I’ve been thinking a lot about that lately’ replied Lauren ‘about how we set ourselves up to fail’.  ‘Well, you write the article then’ I snorted..........so she did!!!

January 2020 - New Year, new me.

It feels the same every year, everyone starting new resolutions and giving up ‘bad’ habits.  I do it every year too, only to set myself up for failure.  This year, my life took a very unexpected turn and in a way that I had never, ever imagined.  Instead of resorting to my usual ‘quick fixes’ to give myself a temporary boost, I wanted to create a sustainable way to live my life in the best way that I can.  No fad diets or mad gym dashes, just good food and enjoyable exercise.  I no longer wanted to be that stressed-out Lauren with no way to control my anxieties besides making endless ‘to-do’ lists.  So I decided to go to mindfulness classes to try to understand how my brain works and find ways to manage life in a way that won’t give me short-term ‘fixes’ but will hopefully bring long-term relaxation and peacefulness.

I am now finding that I am spending more time with my friends and family and have discovered a deep and fulfilling relationship with my mum that I wouldn’t have found if I hadn’t taken a look into what I really want and what really is important.  By taking a step back from the quick fixes and honestly working on ourselves with a long-term vision, we won’t always feel like we have failed or that we didn’t manage to do this or that.  We will be gentler with ourselves and find what really makes us happy and content.

As this is the church magazine and my mum is the vicar, I suppose I ought to at least mention God!!  I guess, for me, I can see how an awareness of my own self and how I relate to others is not so far apart from a journey of faith and how that is lived out every day.  It’s not about your New Year’s resolution being that you

go to church every week or commit to reading the Bible every day because you will set yourself up to fail.  It’s more about reflecting on what is important in your 

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faith and focusing on making that sustainable - making more time for prayer, giving yourself some space for reflection, becoming more aware of how things you do daily link back to your faith.

It doesn’t have to be spectacular, I just think we should all be kinder to ourselves and celebrate the small, sustainable ‘wins’ - life is hard enough already without us adding to our own load!!

Lauren

(PS - this being a Vicar stuff is easy!)

Well, when did she become all grown-up!!!  Seriously though, I could’ve kissed her!  I had no motivation to write anything and was feeling very much a failure.  My lovely daughter has taught me several things this week.....1.  Life is better when it’s shared with someone who cares.  2.  Help comes from the most unexpected of places.  3.  Even one tiny step in the right direction is still one step closer to the ultimate goal.  4.  The only time you fail is when you fail to try.  And 5.  I am one lucky woman to have the love and support of my family 

and friends.  So this year, I have just one resolution......simply to notice each day something I have to be grateful for.  Thanks Lauren!!

  With love - Ginni