Portrait of Pembridge Blog 20
October 2025
Be Part of Pembridge History
Portrait of Pembridge was founded with the aim of recording the history, events, and people of Pembridge parish. Our latest venture is to create a collage of photographs to be installed permanently in the Parish Hall entrance.
Our readers are invited to send us images of Pembridge, buildings, people, and events, for inclusion in this. Photos may be contemporary of historic, in colour or black and white.
Digital copies may be emailed to portraitofpembridge@yahoo.co.uk
If you have a photo you’d like us to copy please call Barry 07711 406306
Community participation will be key to the success of this project which will provide a lasting portrait of Pembridge.
Harvest Festival and Autumn Supper
Pembridge Church will be welcoming the Bishop of Hereford to its Harvest Festival service at 11am on 5th October.
The Church will also host an Autumn Supper with a speaker at the Parish Hall at 7pm on 25th October. Tickets £15 www.arrowvalechurches.org.uk
Celebration of the Pembridge Tapestries
This year the Pembridge Tapestries are ten years old. They tell the story of Pembridge from Domesday in 1086 to the present day. They’re on permanent display in Pembridge Church along with the Pembridge Map and the Pembridge Jubilee Tapestry.
In March many of us were lucky to attend a concert of songs written by local resident Andy Davies telling the story of Pembridge as depicted in the Tapestries.
For those disappointed to miss this, on 11th October there’s a second chance to hear the wonderful words and music sung by local vocalists accompanied by the Eardisland Village Band under Andy’s direction.
Pembridge Church are selling tickets for this. £5 per person (children free) on the door, by phone Gill 01544 388441 or www.arrowvalechurches.org.uk
Camino Walk for Leukaemia UK
Clive Osborne has nearly achieved his goal of raising £5,000 for Leukaemia UK in memory of his late wife Doreen who died with the disease.
Clive with his daughter Hayley, Musical Director of the Love to Sing Choir, completed their sponsored walk along the pilgrim’s route in Northern Spain in September.
Despite much progress in the treatment of leukaemia only 50% of diagnosed patients survive more than 5 years from diagnosis according to Leukaemia UK.
You can help Clive and his family over their fund-raising target by donating to his Just Giving page. They are now just over £100 short so a few more donations will help achieve this.
www.justgiving.com/page/clive-osborne-1?utm
Poppy Appeal 2025
Pembridge & Shobdon Royal British Legion will launch their Poppy Appeal on 18th October 10.30 am – 12noon at Pembridge Parish Hall where they will host the Parish Coffee Morning. All are welcome to drop in for coffee, cake and a chat.
Up to 9th November there will be an opportunity to contribute to the work of the Royal British Legion. Door to door collectors will be calling. This year they can accept both cash and digital donations, via a QR code, for those who have a smartphone with a linked payment method. Last year North Herefordshire villages raised £9,400 for which the organisers are very grateful and would like to exceed this year.
The Royal British Legion supports veterans, serving members of the armed forces, and their families in times of need. It provides a vital lifeline to those willing to make sacrifices for the security of our country.
Remembrance Sunday is on 9th November when a service will be held at the War Memorial, West Street followed by a Parade to the Church.
Keep Fit at the Parish Hall
The Parish Hall hosts two Keep Fit sessions on Wednesday and Friday mornings with fitness instructor Farah
Beginners’ classes are at 10am and Intermediate at 11am.
The exercises are designed to suit all levels and own pace.
All equipment is provided by the parish hall and classes are free. No need to register just turn up for a gentle work out to improve your fitness while having some fun.
Film & Movie Nights
Film fans will be spoilt for choice as Pembridge Film Nights at the New Inn stages a season of French films accompanied with supper and Pembridge Parish Hall continues its season of monthly Movie Nights.
Pembridge Film Nights had great success with its season of films with an artistic theme screened during Herefordshire Art Week. On 2nd October there will be another chance to see “Memories of the St Ives Modernists” (PG) at the New Inn.
In November the art theme continues with two French films “Faces Places “(PG) and “ Portrait of a Lady on Fire” (15)on 2nd and 6th November, For booking details see www.ticketsource.co.uk/pembridge-film-nights
The Parish Hall Movie Nights will take place on the last Friday of the month. “Emily” a biopic of “Wuthering Heights” author Emily Bronte on 31st October. In November it will be “Four Letters of Love” (12A) a romance set in Ireland stars Helena Bonham Carter, Pierce Brosnan and Gabriel Byrne.
Tickets from www.pembridgeparishhall.co.uk/events
Ballet, Opera, and Theatre fans will have lots of entertainment at the Parish Hall to look forward to. Full details on www.portraitofpembridge.co.uk/events-calendar
Martin’s Mission
Dementia Matters Here is a local charity which provides support for those living with dementia and their carers. Pembridge resident Martin Steer has set himself the target of raising £50,000 to enable the charity to replace its Dementia Bus.
The Dementia Bus enables the charity to provide advice, information, and help to families living in rural Herefordshire but after 21 years’ service the bus now needs replacing.
Martin is confident that this can be achieved and is already nearly halfway there to his target thanks to the generosity of local businesses and individuals.
In July 2025 over 506,500 individuals in England had a recorded diagnosis of dementia. The total number affected is likely to be higher as many may yet to be diagnosed.
To help Martin achieve his goal and enable the Dementia Bus to continue its good work you may wish to donate to Martin’s Just Giving page. Just Giving is a secure and efficient way of donating with the money sent straight to Demetia Matters Here, saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
You can donate here https://www.justgiving.com/page/martin-steer-1?utm
Kingspan Gift to Pride in Pembridge
Pride in Pembridge (PIPS), the community volunteers who keep our village looking beautiful, have received a Kingspan Community Award.
This has enabled PIPs to create a new planter, made by a local craftsman and to fill it with plants.
PIPs have been busy planting bulbs which will provide a dazzling display next Spring and will be clearing the moat, Jubilee Garden, and phone box area.
PIPs meet most Thursdays at 10 am at the Market Hall and new members are welcome to join.
Thank you PIPS for all your hard work.
Cider Season
With all our orchards festooned in apples, now is an appropriate time for Pembridge Parish Hall to host a talk on the history of Cider making, to include a tasting. At Pembridge Parish Hall on 17th October at 7pm.
Tickets £3.50 from www.pembridgeparishhall.co.uk/events
We Need You
Portrait of Pembridge is a volunteer run community resource. Please let us have your stories and news, share your expertise on topics ranging from local history, farming, the environment, events and fund raising.
Please email portraitofpembridge@yahoo.co.uk or call Kay 07342 625796 or Barry 07711 406306 for a chat about what’s involved.
Spread the Word
We are keen to reach as many parishioners as possible. If you know someone who doesn’t yet receive our blog and “Dates for your Diary” straight to their inbox, please encourage them to sign up for this free service on www.portraitofpembridge.co.uk
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