Page 4 - News and Views Autumn WInter 2024

A rustic Meeting for Worship with Fordingbridge Friends Rosemary Brown

Our Local Meeting is called Bournemouth and Fordingbridge, but in fact the latter is a small meeting
about 20 miles away in the deep New Forest countryside.
We normally meet one afternoon in the home of a lifelong Quaker, Bridget, whose land accommodates a
number of animals and friends. About half a dozen of us sit round the dining table, with heath land
stretching away to the horizon, and Bridget’s dog affectionately doing the rounds as we sit, pretty much in
silence.

Last month, Bridget was away, so we went to Mandy’s. Bridget’s house is almost modern in comparison
with Mandy’s 300-year-old cottage. We were greeted at the gate by Henry, a small friendly and extremely
vociferous dog. We walked through Mandy’s garden, where she has all kinds of useful plants, and sat
down with a glass of home-grown and home-made elderflower cordial. Delicious.

After a silent Meeting for Worship, with a little muffled rustling as Henry brushed up against skirts, we
had a chat and then Mandy showed us round. First stop was a large cardboard box in the dining-room
where five silver-backed runner ducklings were waddling about. The box was to protect them from our
friend, Henry. Outside we met the pigs and explored the garden. Mandy’s donkeys were out in the forest
but would know their way home when the sun set. There were pieces of equipment which Mandy had
made or repaired dotted about. It all made us feel that if the world as we know it comes to an end,
Mandy will be there showing us all how to live.

Photograph from Rosemary

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