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cymuned
Summer 2017
In brief
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What the 'diocesan butler' saw
Join in St James' 150th celebrations Celebrations are underway at St James’ Church in Swansea, as it marks its 150th anniversary. There will be a special service on thanksgiving on July 23, led by Rev Mark Williams and Bishop John. It will take place at 10.30am followed by cakes and drinks in the parish centre. There will also be an exhibition, St James Past and Present, running from July 19-23, featuring photos, historical items, memorabilia, a quiz and flower displays. St James’ was consecrated on June 21, 1867, as a sister church of St Mary’s, to meet the needs of the city’s growing population. When St Mary’s was destroyed during the Blitz, St James’ became the parish church, although its parish hall was requisitioned by the ambulance service. It was recommended in the 1920s that it should become a parish in its own right, although it took until 1985 for that to happen. The first vicar of the parish was Howard Jones, who had been the headmaster of Ffynone school, across the road. The church was associated with the Missions to Seamen’s Guild in 1986. There are at least 22 local community organisations which use the parish centre every week, and concerts, services and events are regularly held in the church, and there are plans to increase the number of community events and activities. For more information about the celebrations, or to get involved at St James’, email swanseastjames@ gmail.com
cymuned
Summer 2017
The end of an era's approaching as Paul Baker prepares for a well-earned retirement. Here, he looks back at his time in the DBF
Love of labradors inspires Jo's charity cycle challenge J o Davies is getting on her bike for two epic charity rides – thanks in part to her love of labradors. The minor injury nurse and keen cyclist will be tackling two coast-to-coast rides to raise money for Canine Partners, a charity which aims to transform the lives of people living with disabilities by providing them with assistance dogs. She was inspired to take on the challenge after getting to know Jo Hill, who herself enjoyed sport and trained for triathlons, but was left wheelchair bound and in severe pain after a traffic accident. “I met Gavin, Jo’s husband, through a ride we did from Land’s End to John O’Groats and he introduced me to Jo through social media because of our mutual love of labradors. I’ve got two, and Jo’s canine partner, a labrador called Derby, was with her for a few years and helped restore Jo's sense of independ-
ence and remove the reliance she felt she had on others,” she said. “Sadly, due to a short illness Derby had to be put to sleep in January this year. Jo, as well as grieving deeply for the loss of her canine partner, once again found herself thrown into having to rely on others for simple daily tasks. That’s when I learned how much it costs train these amazing dogs – up to £20,000. “Since Derby's death, Jo has been teamed up with a new dog, Unis, and she’s learning the ropes now. Jo and Unis are working well together and gradually Jo's independence is once again being restored." The charity also works in partnership with Help for Heroes, the Royal British Legion and other services organisations to provide assistance dogs for veterans and those wounded in service. First up for Jo, who is married to Bishop John, was tackling
the 155-mile Seascale to Whitby route on June 24. “The second ride is one I’ve done before and that’s Wales in a day, Caernarfon to Chepstow, on July 22, again it involves about 4,500 metres of climbing but it’s around 181 miles.” To prepare for the gruelling rides, Jo has been putting in extra training at home and abroad. Jo is being supported in her charity bid by Bikes and Hikes of Talybont-on-Usk, the owner of which Keith Lee is helping her prepare for the demands of her two coast-to-coast rides. “Keith has been really amazing and very, very supportive. If I ever ring up about a problem with the bike he knows I need it for training so he gets it turned around very quickly. He’s also hoping to source me a new bike, from manufacturers Specialized, for the rides." • You can sponsor Jo at http:/ virginmoneygiving.com/ 2rides4Caninepartners
O
ne of the great joys about working in the office has been the opportunity to meet and work with many people from across the diocese. They have been priests and church officers, others from across the diocese and people from far away. I first lived in the diocese when I was a student in the then-University College Swansea and, from time to time, I attended Clyne Chapel. I then went off to seek my fortune, getting married and having a son. We all then returned to the area when I took up the appointment as a headteacher in a small primary school. Things did not work out well there, although I did enjoy the experience before taking early retirement on medical grounds. Two years later I came for work experience at the diocesan office, and have been here ever since. While teaching, members of my parish used to make the sandwiches for the youth camp which was then being held in the grounds of Gwernyfed High School. By helping with the sandwiches, I met members of the clergy who came with the children from their parish. When I came to the office I already knew many people from both the youth camp and the diocesan conferences which I had already been to as a parish representative. Over the years I have sat in almost all the chairs in the different sections of the office. I have worked in the Parsonage Board helping the inspector, I have minuted most committees starting with ‘Celebrate 98’. I have written the letters which go out with grants to the several societies who receive
gifts from the diocese and so been on the receiving end of their thanks. I have even spent a short period in the cathedral office as dean’s secretary. Over time my work graduated into doing more and more of the work associated with the Churches and Pastoral Committee. Initially this was taking the minutes for the meetings and organising the cycle of quinquennial Inspections. Gradually my work moved on into helping churches find funding for the repairs and improvements in their buildings. This has been most rewarding and the ideas sent to parishes have enabled them to engage in the projects they want and we can only estimate the amount of money brought in. Over the years it will have amounted to several million pounds. This has been a partnership between the DBF office staff and the parishes but it does show the value for money of having a diocesan office. My colleagues have been most helpful especially with more and more complex computer activities. I still have a cartoon of a monk working at his computer tapping away on the keyboard with his quill. I may have become an old dog but my younger colleagues have taught me new tricks. The staff of the office are few and on one occasion the Diocesan Secretary said, “If someone rings up and asks for a department, if we do not have one, it is you.” This has resulted in many strange titles being given me among them Diocesan Butler. The latter job started with Bishop Anthony needing someone to serve the wine at a meal he was hosting.
Then Archdeacon Randolph asked that when I brought him his expenses he wanted them on a silver tray. I went to the Oxfam shop in Hay and bought a silver coloured tray and with one hand behind my back and the silver tray in the other I could make the deliveries. I enjoyed doing so as it tended to lighten the day. Once while waiting for the members of the Harris review team to arrive the assembled group considered my ability as a butler and concluded that I was not as good as the one in Downton Abbey! Once I admitted the archbishop into the centre and when asking who I was, was told I was the butler without explanation. I even once got a letter addressed to me as the ‘Former Butler to the Previous Bishop’. Over the years I have worked with three diocesan secretaries who have looked after me well and I hope I them. When people ask, what is your status I tell them I am the office boy. Office boys tend to know everything but do not need to make important decisions – they are there to serve. All the years I have been here I have been allowed out every Monday afternoon to work in the Oxfam Shop in Hay-on-Wye. In retirement, this will continue. I have asked to join the Cathedral Welcomers and I will have time to do more gardening with my wife Susan, which is something I have long looked forward to doing. I have one or two projects in mind so I will probably not notice that I have retired. I will enjoy it when winter comes and I will not need to stand in a queue for a bus in the dark, in the snow. What could be better than that?