October comes and with it the academic year begins in universities and colleges. In anticipation of this I was in Northampton yesterday at the university for the opening of a new building.
We’ve opened so many buildings since the new campus was finished at Waterside it’s felt a bit like Groundhog Day in Legoland; but this new building is a bit special. It houses the Institute for Creative Leather Technologies, which has been going in one form or another for more than a hundred years, in Bermondsey in London originally, to where dirty trades like tanning were banished, and then to Northampton. It is now a world leader, and students from the Netherlands, India, the United States, and lots of other places come to learn at what is still an unparalleled centre of excellence. It is great to see the county making progress in this way, and great to feel that the skills of the leather and related trades, which kept so many of us in gainful employment for decades, are not lost.
And it also reminds us that the hope of regeneration and renewal is never lost, even when the first cold snaps come to remind us that winter is coming.
In church we turn too at the end of September, with Michaelmas, towards the end of the year, with All Saints and All Souls, as the nights draw in and the thermometer drops, and the mood gets solemn.
This year Hallowe’en may bring it with also a hard exit from the EU. Whatever your view of this, please note that supplies of foods and medicines may be affected, so do make contingency arrangements, and don’t hesitate to ask for help, if you need it, especially if you live alone.
Spring, with its promise of new life, is never so distant that it cannot be anticipated by all of us called to live in the hope Jesus won for us, once and for all, at the first Easter; by looking out for our neighbours, by taking care of the infirm, by helping to bring about reconciliation wherever people are at enmity.
Yours in Christ,
Fr Richard.
Dear Father Richard,
Last Thursday my car was ‘in for the day’ for a service in Irthlingborough (had ‘courtesy car’). I had a friend with me and I suggested popping up to Finedon for a ‘look around’ – I haven’t been there for ages (not since I lived in Rushden). Anyway, we got to the church, not expecting it to be open (which, of course, it wasn’t) and took a walk around the churchyard. Then found a little door open by the porch….and a narrow spiral stair. A board behind the door said ‘Library – adults £1’ etc. We went up to find your archivist and some folk doing ‘research’ – and were welcomed and shown some of the fascinating collection. And it turned out that the archivist ‘stands next to Lucia, a mutual friend, in the choir. Lucia is on the Barbara Pym Society committee, with me. I’ll be seeing her next week in Oxford! (You’ll know all about BP, I’m sure) What a great and unexpected ‘experience’ and delight on a dull January Thursday. I hope to be back sometime (from nr. Kimbolton).
By the way, another coincidence… have just read ‘Bringing in the Sheaves’ – really liked it and it’s chronological structure (commencing close to my ‘name day’ – though St. Peter always seems to take precedence over Paul!)
Regards Paul H
Hi I have emailed your message to Farther Richard.
For future refrence the best and quickest wat to contact Fr Richard is via his email address revdrichardcoles@yahoo.co.uk