The Reverend Otis Driftwood announced that earlier this week, just as the fundraising thermometer had been updated to show that donations have reached the halfway point at just under £80,000, an pledge was made to fund the remaining half meaning that St. Polycarp’s Church will have a new roof in 2020! The pledge, made by … More Fundraising Update – a Christmas Miracle!
With the friendly clamour of the electronic bell to the tune of “Popeye the Sailor Man”, the children of Soddenham come tumbling out into the streets to find the pink and cream van coming around the corner, already trailing kids like the Pied Piper of Hamlyn – it’s time for a Skinner’s ice cream! Oh … More Skinner’s Quality Ice Cream
WITH ALWYN GAZE It has often been commented upon that I spend a lot of my time walking in and around the village over the years, without route nor destination, and that I must know every inch of every mile! That well may be, but as I walk amongst our lanes and through our pastures I am … More Around Soddenham
The church is still temporarily closed and services have been running on a much reduced frequency, duration and regularity. The new incumbent Rev. Driftwood has been organising fundraising groups and almost every business in the village has a collection jar on the counter, of which he is assiduously collecting the contents daily, as well as … More Fundraising
As we reported in March, after an extraordinary theft of the roof of St. Polycarp’s Church, our vicar of 18 years, the Reverent Jeanette Blencowe was found dead in the Leam beneath Candlesmoke Bridge. The investigation into the theft of the roof and the death of Rev. Blencowe, and their possible connection, has been thorough … More Reverend Jeanette Blencowe 1968-2019
In these posts so far we have featured shops and businesses in the heart of the village, but now its time to feature our other main commercial area – The Soddenham Enterprise Zone! Situated in the south eastern corner of the village on what was the old Savilles Bunsen Burner factory, the zone is now … More Soddenham Enterprise Zone
Our new vicar, The Reverend Otis Driftwood arrived in Soddenham last week without much fanfare it has to be said, as we had not been informed of his arrival. Indeed, It was only after several hours in The Witches Teat did Mr. Driftwood introduce himself formally. After some initial confusion, Mr. Driftwood was offered temporary … More The New Incumbent
Soddenham has been offline it would seem; and this is not without reason. It is with great sadness that I inform you that a great tragedy has befallen the village and it has taken its toll upon our small community. Our intention to resume our online presence at the beginning of the year was put … More A Tragedy
While the UK has been baking under an unseasonably hot spell this summer, Soddenham has been experiencing its first ‘drying out’ since 1976! As the name implies, Soddenham was founded upon the sodden earth and surrounding woodlands and has evolved to embrace it’s unusually moist environment and giving birth to the once proud and mighty … More A Long Hot Summer
WITH ALWYN GAZE Yesterday morning during my customary walk I happened to bump into my old friend Brian Medler. Medler’s Model Shop sits on the west side of the village green on Main Street but I found him heading down Pricking Lane towards Setchell’s Copse with a rather smart looking case. He informed me that … More A New Find
This is Soddenham 