We have just had the AGM at Redhill but before we go into detail on the year ahead it may be nice to look back on this year’s pilgrimage to Holywell. Bruce’s championship of north Wales was inspired.It brought us to part of the country that few of us have walked before and the quietness and low key charm of Anglesey contrasted nicely with the more spectacular delights of the mainland starting with the purple peaks of Snowdonia, the stone circle above Conwy, the ancient yew tree at Llangernyw church and the nearby museum, the Jesuit retreat of St Beuno’s, the friary and shrine of Padre Pio at Pantasaph, the view of the Dee estuary from the Clyweddian hills and finally St Winefride’s well at Holywell. Apart from Bangor accommodation was fine – it would not be pilgrimage without one tight fit. I would like to thank all the pilgrims  especially the newcomers for helping out and doing those jobs that have to be done to make the day to day running of the pilgrimage go so smoothly.

Now the AGM.

Fr. Tony Milner from Dorking attended the AGM and will be our new RC chaplain. Welcome Tony. It is hoped Fr David will still come along as part of the support team.

Those of us on the second week will already know that Chris Nussbaum has with some arm pulling  come forward as our trainee coordinator with a view to take over in 2019. Congratulations Chris.

Anne Lavelle one of our church liaison team was concerned that we were not properly appreciating the trouble that the local volunteers and church wardens go to to open their churches for us. It has been decided that we make a donation from pilgrimage funds to each church that receives us. This will result in a small increase in the cost of our pilgrimage.

Other suggestions for next year: Tineke will bring address labels for luggage as most of us forget to put them on. Simon was happy with a more standardised lights out and rise time-timings permitting-and thinks it might be a good idea to have a grace at breakfast when the hot food is brought out.

At the AGM it was decided to go for a pilgrimage to Buckfast Abbey in Devon as it is the abbey’s 900th anniversary. Peter had suggested Peterborough, that might be suitable for another year.

Peter our alternative transport officer was unhappy that day planners this year had not supplied him with any information on transport alternatives for their days. Let’s hope this year day planners remember to do so.

Bruce and Hazel are happy to do a week’s catering next year and Bruce is happy to make the crosses and do a day’s route planning. Alison has however let us know that she will not be able to do the second week’s catering. On behalf of all the pilgrims I would like to thank Alison for all she has done for the pilgrimage over the years -no small part in making the pilgrimages such a pleasant experience.

Steven Knowles has come forward to be our accommodation officer or hall finder and Suzy Duffy and Clare Neal have offered to help out.

John Russell is happy to be our driver again.

Gill and Mary Fuller are organising this year’s reunion in Chichester on the weekend of the 27th to 29th of October.We will be based at the the 5th Chichester Scout Hut on Whyke Rd PO19 8HS. Application forms will be on line shortly. All past and recent pilgrims and any prospective pilgrims are welcome. Payment can be made on the weekend.

Could everyone remember Gillian in your prayers as she is currently undergoing a chemotherapy course and would be happy to hear from anyone who knows her.

Francis O’Sullivan, Coordinator

Save the date! This year’s reunion will take place in Chichester over the weekend 27-29 October. More details will follow shortly. Reunions are not restricted to those who participated in the current year’s pilgrimage, but open to pilgrims past, present and future. Be there!

With the 2017 pilgrimage completed, it’s time to reflect on this year and look forward to next year, which happens at our Annual General Meeting.

This year’s AGM is in Sunday 17th September 2017 at St Joseph’s Church, Ladbroke Road, Redhill,  RH1 1LF at 2pm (earlier than usual!) and is open to all pilgrims.

The agenda is DABEWP+Agenda+17Sept2017 and the minutes from last year are DABEWP AGM Minutes 18September2016

Sorry for the short notice.

Our 2017 Pilgrimage is underway and you can follow progress at http://thepilgrims.org.uk/2017/home.php

Feel free to send messages of encouragement through the “mail the pilgrims” or “contact the pilgrims” links.

There’ve been a few questions seeking details of the upcoming pilgrimage in North Wales; the planning team have been busy behind the scenes finalising details and now the key documents are available here:

• Equipment list 2017 – what you need to bring and prepare.
• Countryside and Pilgrim Code 2017 – explains what makes a pilgrimage work, and should be read by ALL participants (new and old) before joining the pilgrimage.
• Cajufad 2017 – “Come And Join Us For A Day”, this is the summary form of the route notes, good for printing off and leaving with family, or if you want to drop in to meet the pilgrims along the route.
• Route Cards 2017 – The “full works” with detaiis of every day, including joining instructions at the start and analysis of each day’s walk. You should carry the relevant page with you on each day’s walk, just in case your route diverges from the official one or you have to take alternative transport.
• Alternative Transport 2017 – if you can’t walk a day or part of a day this will help you make your way by public transport. Carry it with you!
• Who are we 2017 – primarily designed a leaflet to give to interested passers by, it’s a good idea to read it and remind yourself why we’re making this pilgrimage. Carry a few with you to share with anyone who  is interested (it looks smarter than saying “dunno, I’m just following these orange arrows”).

I believe that printed copies of the above documents will be available at registration, but you need to read them to get to registration!!

The pilgrimage web site will be updated very soon to include these details, and as the pilgrimage progresses updates and pictures will be displayed.

If you’re not walking, feel free to send messages of support to those who are via the website.

I’ve been holding this back on the assumption that there would be a newsletter at this time, but as I’ve had no content I should publish this news anyway…

Long time pilgrim Gillian McLauchlan asks for your prayers: she is undergoing treatment for bowel cancer. A few weeks back she reported “My 4th and 5th sessions were both delayed by a week due to low white blood cell count so they have reduced the chemo format. 5 sessions down and 7 to go. Still feeling well and looking good too, a bit breathless at times so I have to walk slowly!!”

If you want to get in touch, Gillian says she’s still at the same address, Pankhurst House.

Our newsletter is now available online here. It includes more information about this summer’s pilgrimage in North Wales and other items of interest.

This year The Arundel and Brighton Ecumenical Walking Pilgrimage is making its way to St Winefride’s shrine at Holywell, North Wales (“the Lourdes of Wales”).  We will start our Pilgrimage in Bangor then, after a circle round Anglesey, we will be going via Conwy and St Asaph on to our final destination at Holywell, following parts of the Anglesey Coast Path, Wales Coast Path and North Wales Pilgrims Way and visiting several Holy Wells on the way.    2017 marks the 500th anniversary of the start of the Reformation.  We adopt the symbol of the  ecumenical movement, a boat afloat on the sea of the world with its mast in the form of a cross, whilst also reflecting on the lives of those Welsh Saints who touched the places we will be walking through.

Please see the linked poster and application form.

Pilg poster 2017

Pilg application form 2017

Please note that, although the poster refers you to the website for full details, I currently have no more information than is on the poster / form. As it becomes available, I will post it on the website.

Sheila Tilley, a stalwart of pilrimages for many years, passed away on 5th January. Her funeral will be at 13:30 on Tuesday 7th February,at All Saints C of E Church, Bark Hart Road, Orpington, BR6 0QD.

Sheila walked with us for nearly 20 years, from 1979 until 1997.

Father David Russell has been our pilgrimage chaplain since 2000, having first walked with us back in 1976 (even earlier than I had originally thought!). Over the years he has become a non-walking member of our community whilst continuing to minister to our spiritual needs.

This year David turns 80, and we are holding a little party to mark the event on Saturday 21st January 2017.

The evening will begin with mass at 7:15pm (note later time) at St George’s RC church in Hangleton, Hove, Court Farm Rd and will be followed by refreshments in the church hall.People attending can if they wish stay overnight in the church hall.

The January committee meeting which had been scheduled for Sunday 15/01/2017 will now take place in the morning of Sunday 22/01/2017 – exact time to be advised  but probably from 9.00am.

If you intend to attend the celebration, please download and complete the attached form and return it to Ceri (details on the form).

Fr David’s 80th Invitation