NO REST FOR THE PILGRIMS!

If you are coming with us to Walsingham or planning to join us for a day, do note that there is a change from the dates on the poster. Due to accommodation and route difficulties the rest day at Bury St Edmunds has been replaced by a rest morning (!) at Thetford. So the dates for the last part of the pilgrimage now read:

Tuesday 25th August                  Sudbury to Bury St Edmunds

Wednesday 26th August            Bury St Edmunds to Thetford

Thursday 27th August                Thetford to Mundford

Friday 28th August                     Mundford to Swaffham

           Saturday 29th August                 Swaffham   to Fakenham

Sunday 30th August                   Fakenham to Walsingham

Monday 31st August                  Journey home

Do note very carefully if you are joining us at Bury St Edmunds or Thetford, or you might get there when we aren’t! Latest statistics show that there are 71 pilgrims taking part, 51 going all the way, between 57 and 62 at any one tine. Of these about 20 are newcomers to the pilgrim family, and we look forward to welcoming them. In East Anglia the going is very flat compared with some previous pilgrimages, but the countryside is very attractive in its own unique way.

FATHER JAMES BISGROVE

James Bisgrove was ordained Priest by Bishop Ward at Penarth, South Glamorgan, on Saturday 27th June. Congratulations to James and praise and thanksgiving to God! Among pilgrims present were Chris Dobbe, the Sharps, Justine Schneider, Alex Atkinson, Josie Forde, Frances and Jimmy Dean and Mohan Misra. Father James will be walking with us to Walsingham, before taking up his appointment in a parish in South Wales

A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME…

Sr Margaret Crinyion (the Songbird of Bath) is now a member of the community of Poor Clares at Crossbush, near Arundel, and is now Sister Judith. She says pilgrim visitors are always very welcome, and they may ask to see her. (Apparently some recent visitors thought that they wouldn’t be allowed to see her in her enclosed community.) She says she is on good form and will be joining this year’s pilgrimage — in a spirit or prayer.

TONY IS BACK AT WORK

Tony Tilley (van driver on Buckfast 2) has now resumed full time work after his long illness. He had a year of treatment followed by a lengthy period of recovery at home, and then worked part time for about 5 months. He thanks all the pilgrims for their prayers for his recovery, and wishes us a blister free journey in fair weather to Norfolk.

THREE CATHEDRALS AT EASTER

Quite a few of our pilgrims joined Margaret Archer on her annual Portsmouth Diocesan Walking Pilgrimage at Easter. It was a pleasure to welcome them to the Guildford corner of our diocese. Starting from Guildford Cathedral they walked via Chilworth, Wonersh and Frensham to Winchester and Salisbury.

A FLOATING PILGRIMAGE

For a week in April 12 happy pilgrims were cruising up and down the Thames under the direction of Captain Patrick Reeve. Familiar names among his crew were Paul Anson, Max Bath, Steve O’Shea, Anne de Ath, Linda Green. Jo Hennessy, Colin Hooper, Carolyn Mahon, Julian Martin, Jane Marshall and Maggie Sexton. Your newsletter editor joined them for one day and can vouch for the fact that their number one rule (really enjoy yourself) was closely observed. The sun shone, the river flowed by, the scenery changed effortlessly, suggesting strongly that there are easier sorts of’ holidays than going on walking pilgrimages!

THE UNDERSTAFFED NHS

Clare de Normanville is now working in the intensive Care Unit at Lincoln Hospital, which is so short staffed that nurses have been asked to cancel their holidays, so she won’t be with us this year.  She has taken up jogging and is planning to enter a half marathon at the end of the year.

WATERS THE WARRIOR

Gerard Waters (who walked with us on the first three pilgrimages) is at present in the Royal Navy serving aboard HMS Warrior, which is the Navy’s HQ at Northwood, Middlesex. His commission ends at Christmas, and being land-based he hopes to join us for a day this year.

TO SUSAN AND MICHAEL A DAUGHTER

Anne Theresa was born to Michael and Susan (née Martin) McCabe on 31st March at St Thomas’s Hospital, London. She has already been on the Portsmouth Diocesan Pilgrimage (see above)! Her proud parents burst into poetry to announce her arrival:

“Susan and Michael McCabe,

Here tell of the birth of their babe.

Her name ‘s Anne Theresa,

A delight when one sees her:

Our wonder, our treasure, our babe.”

AND BLOB HAS A BABY TOO

Calum James Carle Stewart was born on 8th December 1986 at Elsie Inglis Maternity Hospital, Edinburgh, a son to Malcolm and Gabe. Gabe (née Gaye Churchill), alias Blob, walked all the way on the first ever pilgrimage.

AND EXPECTANT PILGRIMS

Nick and Claire Parsons are expecting another baby. Claire and Nick Parsons (not forgetting Aidan) have moved.

And Mark and Mary Yeomans are also expecting a second child, a brother or sister to James.

WEDDING BELLS

Mark Simons (who was with us on the first four pilgrimages) is getting married to Ruth Grayer from Dorchester in September at Charminster. Dominic Munro (Buckfast 1) is engaged to Louise Waite and they are planning to marry next August in Cambridge. He has recently gained a first class degree at Kings College, Cambridge in Civil Engineering.

FATHER HANS HAD A BROKEN ANKLE

Father Hans Burgman, who walked the Holy Year and Pilgrims Way pilgrimages with us, and then went to found the Pandipieri Centre in Kisumu in Kenya, has recently discovered that he has had a broken ankle since he was about 10 years old Some how it managed to join itself to other bones enabling him to lead so many pilgrimages in England, Spain, Poland and Africa, besides joining two of ours! He has now had an operation in Holland to correct the trouble. After a long convalescence at home, he can now walk without a stick, but with a certain wobble, and long distance pilgrimages are out for the moment. He has now been in Kenya for 10 years. Another of our Pilgrims, Mary Clifford, has recently taken over circulating his newsletter.

SOME NEW ADDRESSES

Clive Connor (Evesham Pilgrimage) is now training for nursing the mentally handicapped at the Manor Hospital, Epsom.

COME TO BEAUTIFUL BRIGHTON

The autumn reunion has already begun to be planned. Put the date in your diary now. 24th - 25^th Octoher at Fitzherbert School, Woodingdean, Brighton. Further information later from Louise Ingelbrecht and Monica McLauchlan,

MORE ORGANISERS NEEDED

A crisis is foreseen for the organising committee next year. If you are willing and able to take on some responsibility for the pilgrimage organisation please write to me, Father Bill, as soon as you can.     W.J.H.