Abbreviations:
P1 - The Easter 1975 Holy Year Pilgrimage beating the bounds of the Diocese
P2 - The Pilgrims Way, 1976, via Winchester to Canterbury.
P3 - The Walsingham Pilgrimage, 1977.
EASTER IN WALES
Moira Stephens (P3) has worked hard organising a youth hostelling and mountain walking holiday this coming Easter. Following last Easter’s enjoyable trip to the Lake District, we will be heading for the Welsh Mountains. The holiday will bring together Leslie Smith, Jane Rex, Mary Marsh-Collis, Bernard Dare and myself who date back to the first pilgrimage, Mark Yeomans (P2), Patricia Burke and Brendan Cotter (P2&3), Moira Stephens, Dominic (Flo) O’Hara, Elizabeth Wakefield, Christopher Hedgecock and James Walshe (P3), and Peter Appleby (P2&3) who are looking forward to meeting now friends Maria Holcroft, Catherine Turner, David Penfold, and Gary Knight. The party have their sights on Cader Idris, Snowdon, The Glyders and Tryfan!
PILGRIMS IN AFRICA
Father Hans Burgman (P1&2), a Mill Hill Father, has begun missionary work in Kenya. His ideal is to live among the African people as a pilgrim, hoping to recapture the spirit of our pilgrimages and to receive the friendly, open reception we have so often enjoyed from our hosts. But first he is struggling to learn the language, and get to know the situation of the country, while working in a parish in Kisumu. He says he is overwhelmed by the social problems that exist. He sends his greetings to all the pilgrims.
BLOB IN BELGIUM
Gabe Churchill (P1&3) is working as an au pair in Belgium, trying to improve her French. Unfortunately she has chosen the Flemish speaking part — lost again Blob !
CHRISTINA LOUISE SMITH
Congratulations to Leslie and Helen on the birth of their second child on 24th December (91b 9oz). Leslie and Helen met on the first pilgrimage. Leslie is planning a marathon walk of 52 miles in 24 hours with 7 colleagues to raise £6,000 for charity. Would you like to sponsor him?
OFF TO CANADA
After a brief stay in England following the Walsingham Pilgrimage, Anne Coleman (P3), has resumed her work as a nanny with rich families in beautiful places, and has gone to Canada. We all hope the sun is shining on you Anne, and keeping up your sun-tan!
TV SINGING STAR
Did you see a beautiful programme of Christmas music on television at about lunch tine on Christmas Day from St Mary’s College, Twickenham, featuring a solo by Marianne McPhillips (P2&3)? Congratulations Marianne. She is now enjoying teaching somewhere in Kent, and is reported to be keeping on top of her pupils.
MASHING TEA IN NOTTINGHAM
Dominic O’Hara, who barely earned the title of Flo the Tea Lady for occasionally making us a cup of tea on the Glastonbury Pilgrimage, is enjoying his studies in Nottingham.
EILEEN THE CYCLIST
Eileen Mahony (P2&3) who has joined us so valiantly on the last two pilgrimages, has now taken to the bicycle, and undertakes long cycling expeditions. She says her hip is stronger than ever.
ST VINCENT DE PAUL
At a recent Junior St Vincent de Paul rally at Crawley it was an unexpected pleasure to see how many pilgrims gathered together under this heading. Pilgrims were among the contingents from Brighton, Farnham and Ashtead. Congratulations to Thea MacKnight (P1) who is the Diocesan President of the Junior S.V.P.
HOGMANAY IN HOVE
Another happy gathering of pilgrims occurred on New Year’s Eve and continued long into New Year’s Day when Lucy and Suzanne Grafen (P2&3) were our hostesses.
MORE NEWS PLEASE
If you think it is a good idea to circulate a bit of news like this about the pilgrims whenever circulars go out, then we will need a bit more news, and a bit less gossip. How about it? Any repeatable news that comes my way will be included. I hope to see you on the route Glastonbury. Do try and join us for a day even if you can’t make it for longer.