‘ No names, No Pack Drill ‘

Mum often used the phrase, ‘No names, No Pack Drill’, when she wanted to find out what had actually happened, without asking who had caused the mishap. I didn’t ask, then, where the saying came from.

In The Wordsworth Dictionary of Idioms, I read that it is ‘An army phrase, from a form of punishment which involved offenders marching up and down carrying full equipment’.

Ninety years, and many Remembrance Day Services, since the end of ‘The War to End All wars’, it is difficult to realise the full horror of war, despite all the books and films about it.

On Remembrance Sunday this year, I was at home, preparing a Christmas package for a young soldier who will be in Iraq then. A photo in ‘The Sandbach Chronicle’ seemed to sum up my feelings at the time. The photo caption was ‘The throng arrives at St. Mary’s Church’. The picture shows cadets, from various groups, lining the path while bowed–headed members from the Parade made their way into Church for the service.

I wear my poppy with pride, but am so sad that it is still needed.

Mary Garratt
24th. November 2008.

Save in Sandbach ? !

Many years ago, I was told that I could best support charities by choosing local ones, and concentrating on those. At about the same time an elderly neighbour said that she couldn’t give much, but that what little she could give, she gave willingly, to whichever charity she supported.

My Mum insisted that I ‘ look after the living ‘ and ‘ buy flowers for her friends’ and not her grave. As a result, I am more likely to know about events in Sandbach than about the latest ‘Celebrity Craze’ or ‘Credit Crunch’.

My lovely new grandson will be invited to see the Christmas Lights switched on – not given a ticket to Lapland to see Santa. At less than a year old this Christmas, Sam may be too young to join us for the concerts given by the Cheshire Constabulary Band & Lions Youth Brass, or by the World Famous Foden’s Band – where his Great Grandfather played cornet & flugel horn for 42 years.

I’m sure he will enjoy popping in to watch the High School & Boys’ School Students working at their Advent Art Panels.

Of course, he will need to stay up quite late after the Christmas Lights are switched on, to see his Uncle Dayve take part in the Oxjam Event, of entertainment to raise funds to help Oxfam.

Once Sam has gone to bed, we may be able to join in the Evening of Music and Dance in aid of St. Mary’s Roof Fund. If not, we will hope to see the Festival of Trees at the same church, while we listen to many local groups singing Christmas Carols during December.

You may well wonder how there will be chance to do any ‘Christmas Shopping’ with so many events going on in Sandbach!

Tourists come from miles around to see our wonderful buildings. They also shop at the variety of specialised ‘Retail Therapy’ places included in those buildings, and made so attractive by Christmas window displays.

I will also be trying to include ‘A little fun for a few pence’ in my own Christmas giving this year. By buying a few raffle tickets and passing those on to friends, I support the local fund raising events.

Other family and friends may find a ‘Challenge for Christmas’ in their card – if ‘The Military Arms’ has its usual fund raising quiz for sale for charity this year.

Charity may well be said to begin at home. Through the efforts of groups and individuals in Sandbach we may yet Save the World while preparing for Christmas.

Mary Garratt
14th. November 2008.