BREW UP

This is a friendly group of people – everyone welcome – who get together once a week for coffee/tea and biscuits and a chat.

NOT a parcel of tabbies having a good gossip and pulling the village to pieces.

Mrs Iris Diver runs it, with volunteers on a rota basis to make the refreshments. Yes, we talk about village matters, and village people.

This village has a river dividing the two parts, and Brew Up is one way that each section catches up on news and people from “the other side” without in any way gossiping. Some of us see each other at other times, eg at Church, when we really have no way of hanging around for a real chat as to how we are, or what we are doing. Brew Up provides that space where we can talk comfortably without being in a hurry. The coffee morning is held in the URC schoolroom, but one does not have to go to the URC to go to the Brew Up. Several people come from StMartins, but there is no obligation to attend any church – just come and see whether you like what we are doing, because we are simply a village organisation. Numbers vary – last week there were about 4, but the week before there were 12. There is no obligation, no “joining”. We are non-profit-making, the charge is all of 30p, though we do have a small bringandbuy once a month, to ensure we have enough cash to cover costs.

On 26th April 1976 the Brewup was held for the first time - almost lost in the mists of antiquity. Obviously over so many years it has changed somewhat. We have inevitably lost friends through the passing of years, illness, relocating and so forth. We seem to have developed into a group of older people, which is working well, because it is quiet and peaceful and nondemanding – probably oldfashioned. The younger generation would of course be welcome, though possibly this would not be their “cup of tea”- after all, most of us have grownup children and grandchildren (some of THEM are also grownup now!!!). I did say quiet and peaceful, didn’t I? On second thoughts amend that to “usually quiet and peaceful” – it depends on what is being discussed, and how strong the general feeling might be – and we do not always agree with each other, though we never come to blows. The words “parrot house at the Zoo” are occasionally apt.

Try us.

Gentlemen not excluded, of course. There are a few brave souls………..

grateful thanks to Mrs Margaret Thomson for this article; ED