Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Bach ,a descendant of a long line of musical ancestors,is to-day recognised as the greatest composer of the polyphonic period. even at an early age, Bachs diligence was amazing,working into the early hours of the morning copying manuscripts by contemporary composers .At the age of sixteen he was an accomplished organist and all his spare time was given to perfecting himself as a harpsichord player and as a composer.

His genius secured him a position with the Duke of Saxe Weimar a position he held for ten years pouring out the most beautiful music and building up a reputation as a player. He married about this time and settled in Leipsig,being appointed Cantor of the St.Thomas Church,living a quiet and uneventful life composing a mass of fine music and playing at important functions. He married twice and had altogether twenty children from the two marriages,three of his sons inheriting their fathers gift and becoming world renowned composers.The continual strain to which he subjected his eyes by writing resulted in total blindness in his closing years.

His outstanding genius was not generally appreciated during his lifetime,and it is largely owing to the devoted efforts of Mendelssohn a hundred years after Bachs death that his music has now attained universal recognition that the centuries cannot dim.

Allotments."Gardening"

A typical Allotment.

An allotment is a plot of land made available to individual,non professional people who cultivate it for there own food production.These gardeners are usually organised into an allotment association, which leases the land from an owner"usually the local council"who stipulates that the plots are are used only  for gardening The plot holders have to pay a small membership fee to the association.

In the U.K. the first allotment law,which has been modified a few times since, was first fully codified in the "Small Holding and Allotment Act 1908" Under the act a local authority is required to maintain an adequate provision of land,usually a large field, which can then be subdivided into allotment gardens for residents at a low rent. Each plot must be used by the plot holder for the production of fruit and vegetables for the consumption of the plot holder and his family.The council has a duty to provide sufficient allotments to meet demand.

The Authors allotment

In dealing with the subject, I am struck with the fact that the allotment movement has taken a recognised place in our national life. Prior to 1914 allotments were familiar landmarks up and down the country, but allotments organised for a national purpose were practically unknown. The present position is a product of the two world wars. Today, as once again we are going to face problems with the importation and shortage of foodstuffs ,allotments are  recognised as being an all time necessity.