September 2020

18 Buckden Roundabout September 2020 Footsteps in prayer everyone being given an ice lolly at the end. There was also an annual talent show. Along with playing kiss chase and doing cartwheels, Dawn fondly remembers that break times were all about hanging out with friends on the school field. She also spoke warmly about teachers including Mr Faulkner and Mrs Crosby, whom she describes as funny and gentle. Little wonder Dawn chose to send her children to Buckden School as well! Present day Buckden School now has over three hundred children on the roll and the head teacher is Mrs. Anderson. The children most- ly come from the catchment villages of Buckden, Stirtloe, Southoe and Diddington. The core subjects are English and maths and other areas of learning include science, art, design and technology, compu- ting, humanities, modern foreign languages, music, PHSE (personal, social, health and economic education), PE and reli- gious education. As we all know from the press, schools are facing unprecedent- ed challenges as they prepare to open for the new school year in September. Many children across the UK have not attended school since lockdown began in March and teachers will surely have a big task in getting everyone up to the standard they should currently be at. The need for social distancing is also likely to call for some creative thinking. We wish Buckden School, including all pupils, teachers, staff and parents all the best for the next school year. - Wendy Trattner Sources www.bl.uk Buckden, A Huntingdonshire Village, Mike Storey & Robin Gib- son (Eds.), 2010 Buckden C.E. School 1871 – 1971 Centenary Year, FWR Claxton, 1971 (Continued from page 12) 150 years of school—or is it? Buckden School in the late twentieth century and present day Dear Friends, Do you sometimes want to pray but don ’ t know where to start? In March 2020 Google reported searches for prayer at the highest level ever recorded. In May 2020 a national newspaper reported that the coronavirus pandemic had resulted in a 50 per cent increase in online searches for prayer as people tried to cope with feelings of anxiety and stress. There are also many reports of people watching services online who would not normally come to church. Our local churches are respond- ing to this renewed interest in prayer and matters of faith with a new initiative. In September, the time when schools reopen and club events restart and which will feel different this year, the churches and individuals in Buckden will focus prayer on all the people who live around us. As well as prayers at home and in church, ’ Footsteps in Prayer ’ (14 - 21 Sept) will be a special week of prayer when volunteers walk the streets where we all live. You would be welcome to walk with us, or maybe there is some- thing or somebody you would like us to pray for? Please email me at priestincharge@stmarysbuckden.org. Then in October - November, there will be the opportunity to explore issues around the Christian faith including ‘ where is God in the midst of Covid19? ’ Look out for more information coming soon. Finally with reference to the logo. ‘ Footprints in the Sand ’ is a poem where a man dreams about seeing his life ’ s journey as footprints. He notices God ’ s footprints beside him for most of his life, except during the tough times, and asks God “ Why is there only one set of footprints during the tough times when I needed you most? ” "My precious child ” God replies, “ I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you." Please get in touch with me or one of the other priests in the village, Father Jim (St Hugh ’ s) or Rev Pam (Buckden Method- ists) for more information. Best wishes, Jes Rev Jes Salt, Priest in Charge, Buckden and the Offords