A few years ago a group of us planted bulbs around the pond area and down Bears Road to brighten up our village in Spring time.

Following on that success many residents have this last week or two been given bulbs to plant on their particular banks and grassy areas all over the village and also at Stow Hill by the windmill.  This has been under the auspices of the Parish Council and the unofficial Paston Community Group.

The restoration and conservation of the wall paintings by Tom Organ and is team from Arte Conservation is nearing completion.   This will be celebrated by a lecture and guide to the paintings by Tom with wine and refreshments the evening of Wednesday 10th November at 7.30 pm.

Do come – Paston residents, we have an important piece of heritage right here in our village and this is a chance to learn more about it.

Then on Monday 15th November the contractors are due to start work on the re – ordering of the church and installation of facilities to make it into a venue for events of all kinds, as it would have been  in the middle ages.

 

St Margaret’s, our village church is particularly fine and is important because of its association with the medieval Paston family whose letters give a picture of life in the 1400’s, and because of its wall paintings.

The wall paintings restoration is now under way under the direction of Tom Organ and his team. The paintings are of St Christopher carrying the young Jesus over a river, to look at which was said to protect you from harm for the rest of the day, and the three hunting noblemen encountering three skeletons “this is how we all end up”  Additionally  an angel with curly hair was discovered only 8 years ago and the team are exploring what other paintings may be there still hidden.

And,  after many years planning, fund raising and obtaining the necessary permissions work is due shortly to start on the installation of wash room and kitchen and moving pews and font to create a space at the rear of the church.  It’s hoped work will start next year, but there are problems with busy builders and shortages and escalating prices of materials.

The planning had been done by a steering group comprising members of the Parish Council, the Church Council and the Heritage Society.