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for parishioners from Preston, Atherstone
and Whitchurch parishes, also plays host to
Tiddlywinks Playgroup. The hall is available for
hire for private functions (at a reduced rate for
parishioners) and its management committee
is active in organising social events. Each year
starts with a New Year’s Day breakfast and
continues with an annual quiz; a May Day
procession, races and teas; a summer barbecue
and a Harvest Supper. In addition concerts
and plays are organised, mainly through the
auspices of the Live and Local organisation. A
gathering on St Thomas’s Day (21st December)
features storytelling, songs and dancing, to the
music of the locally-based Silver Bough Ceilidh
Band.
The Church of St Mary, Preston, is grouped
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the leadership of the Rev’d Chris Goble. They
work together to promote a faithful Christian
community within Preston parish. Services
are held most weeks, preceded by the lusty
ringing of the church’s three ancient bells.
Worship can be either traditional or rather
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festivals are marked with special services. On
Christmas Eve the church is packed with people
for the singing of carols and the performance
of a nativity play by local children. The Church
is aware of its duty to maintain one of the
oldest structures in Preston on Stour; it seeks
to make the building available each day for
worshippers, interested visitors and those
wanting merely a few moments of peace and
YLÅLJ[PVU 0[ HPTZ [V ZLY]L [OL ^OVSL WHYPZO HUK
is always open to suggestions from anyone in
the community.
As stated, although Preston lacks a school
and has had no pub for a hundred years, the
hall, the church and the shop help to maintain
a deep feeling of community amongst those
living in the village and elsewhere in the
parish. Perhaps the best recent illustration of
the strength of community spirit was in June
2012. To celebrate the Queen’s Diamond
Jubilee, an ad-hoc committee (composed
mostly of those on other committees) organised
a series of events which culminated in a grand
evening meal, provided (at no charge) to
villagers, former villagers and their guests. The
appearance of a sizable group of those who
had celebrated the Coronation back in 1953
illustrated the continuity of this community.
It has certainly changed in terms of its
inhabitants, their occupations, car ownership
etc. However its close-knit nature and the
strong consensus concerning the beauty of the
parish and its unspoilt character (highlighted in
the recent survey), point to an optimistic future.
Only 80 years ago, Preston was still
somewhat of a rural backwater without many
of the amenities we take
for granted today. Mains
electricity arrived only in
1934. Mains water was
provided in early 1955
meaning that wells, pumps
and privies became things
of the past, although even
today some cesspits still
exist. In the same year, milk
appeared in bottles instead
of being collected in small
churns. Bathrooms were
added to estate properties
in the 1960s. Telephone
cables were installed many
years ago, but the internet
service remains rather slow
especially compared to what
is available in Stratford and
major cities. It is noted that
Alscot Estate is working to
improve this situation, so
that superfast broadband
may soon be more widely
available. Due to the lack
of a mains gas supply there
PZ H ZPNUPÄJHU[ YLSPHUJL
upon oil for Preston’s
heating and hot water; it
could be argued that more needs to be done
to supply gas to homes – in conjunction with
improved insulation – as part of the principle
of sustainable living. In addition, other forms of
greener energy could be sought.
...parishioners
care passionately
about the
area in which
they live...
1. The Village Hall.
2. Afternoon tea in the
Village Hall.