A MESSAGE FROM REVD MIKE
Dear friends in Christ,
May 2025
As we are all very well aware by now, on Easter Monday Pope Francis died. It is so significant that the Christian Church around the world, nonCatholics included, shared in mourning his death. Only the day before he was present as priest-colleague Archbishop Diego Ravelli gave his traditional Easter message. Part of his message read that, in the resurrection of Jesus:
“Love has triumphed over hatred, light over darkness and truth over falsehood. Forgiveness has triumphed over revenge. Evil has not disappeared from history; it will remain until the end, but it no longer has the upper hand; it no longer has power over those who accept the grace of this day …
In the passion and death of Jesus, God has taken upon himself all the evil in this world and in his infinite mercy has defeated it. He has uprooted the diabolical pride that poisons the human heart and wreaks violence and corruption on every side. The Lamb of God is victorious! That is why, today, we can joyfully cry out: 'Christ, my hope, has risen!'”
I remember a press conference Pope Francis gave and the thorny question concerning homosexuality and the Catholic Church was raised. He responded by saying “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?”
“Who am I to judge”! Historically, that is precisely what the Pope has had the authority to do! Historically, the Pope has been regarded as the ‘mouthpiece’ of God, considered by too many for too long as a distant, aloof, judgemental God.
No, “if we are judged [by God], we will be judged on love” as a poster (as seen on The Christian Left post on Facebook) quoting Pope Francis puts it so clearly. There is an example for us all.
With billions of Christians of all denominations around the world, we hope and pray that Pope Francis’ wonderful legacy of humility, compassion, non-judgment, forgiveness and Christian love is continued by his successor.
In Christian love, Mike
MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE TO ST JOSEPH’S FROM ABBEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH AND RESPONSE FROM FATHER PIETRO
Dear Father Pietro
In the absence of Revd Mike who is away on holiday, I write to offer our sympathies to you and all your brothers and sisters as you mourn the death of your Holy Father.
It must have been a great comfort for Pope Francis to have been able to bless the crowds who had come to personally share with him in St Peter’s Square on Easter Day. For our Lord to then call him home the following day was a shock to us all but such a fitting end to his life here leading the church he loved and served so well.
We shall remember you all in our prayers as we meet this Sunday and as your church seeks to choose its new leader in the coming days.
May the witness of faith shown throughout Pope Francis’ life be an example of love and humility to all Christians and may the hope of the resurrection found in the Easter message bring you comfort as you mourn his passing to God’s eternal kingdom
Yours in Christian fellowship
Andy Bevan, on behalf of Abbey URC
Dear Andy,
Thank you for your kindness.
Pope Francis thought we should live our lives like Christ the Good Samaritan.
Now we are also sure that the Holy Spirit will continue to guide the Church as He has for 2000 years.
Best regards.
God bless you. Fr Pietro
In May, let us follow Pope Francis’ example and through our actions and prayer, work towards a less judgemental world.
RAISING THE ROOF WITH ROCK!
What a fabulous and joyous time we had at our Spring Concert at Abbey United Reformed Church, Romsey on 9 April!
86 Rockies from our Romsey and Southampton choirs raising the roof all in aid of the much-needed Abbey URC Hall roof repairs - our beautiful Tuesday evening rehearsal venue in Romsey.
Rockies you were on top form - what an amazing sound! Huge thanks to all who sang, who organised and contributed to the refreshments and raffle, and of course to our wonderful enthusiastic audience who donated so generously. We raised an amazing total of £908.46 for the hall roof appeal - what a truly fantastic result!
Fraser Simpson
A massive thank you to both the Rock Choirs who held their Spring Concert at our church, raising funds towards the repairs to our Hall roof – they were on top form!
Everyone who attended spoke highly of the energy and sound of the concert, thank you once again for the performance. Personally, I would like to thank you for rehearsing in Abbey Hall – we often hold meetings in the Hall Lounge whilst you are rehearsing, and your singing lifts my soul and the meetings seem to move along more smoothly with your musical accompaniment! Thank you once again.
WILLIE MCKENNA
In April we received the sad news that Willie McKenna died unexpectedly on 31 March at the General Hospital.
Jean said, “It was a huge shock to me and the family and we are just processing it all, but we are thankful he did not suffer a long illness, and we had a long and happy marriage. Please give our best wishes to the folk at church. On the day Willie died I opened my Bible and it fell open at Philippians 2 verse 1. I have received a lot of comfort from my Christian faith and from very kind friends and neighbours. Love and blessings.”
A private family cremation service was held for Willie on 23 April. The thanksgiving service will be held on Wednesday, 2 July at 12noon at Cadnam Methodist Church, situated behind the White Hart pub just off the Romsey Road near Cadnam roundabout. The post code is SO40 2NP. Refreshments afterwards will be at the Empress of Blandings, near Copythorne Church and school.
We have much for which to thank Willie during this time at Abbey URC. Most commonly seen sat at the sound box to manage the microphone volume levels, Willie also spent many unseen hours attending to electrical problems around our church premises. May he now rest in peace.
MAGAZINE DEADLINE
Material for June 2025 to be submitted by 5pm (latest) on Thursday, 22 May 2025 Please email to abbeyurcnews@gmail.com
Alternatively, you could call Carole C, pop it in her letter box, or leave in the pigeon-hole at the back of the church. Thank you.
BIBLE STUDY
We will be holding a Bible study at 6.30pm on Sunday, 4 May on Zoom (ID 864 1780 6994; PC learning) when we will focus on the Gospel verses John 21:1-19 or Acts 9:1-6 (7-20). All welcome!
MORNING PRAYERS
If you would like to take the opportunity to reflect upon God’s word and to pray for the needs of the world, and the Church, in your own time during the week, here are the Psalm and Gospel readings for the month.
May 4
11
Psalm 30 John 21:1-19 or Acts 9:1-6 (7-20)
Psalm 23 John 10:22-30 or Acts 9:36-43 18
Psalm 150 John 13:31-35 or Acts 11:1-18
Psalm 148 John 20:1-18 or Luke 24:1-12 27
Peace be with you
Evening falls, and in gathering darkness of night, the disciples huddle anxiously behind closed doors. And then – you come Jesus, to be with them in their fear. Perhaps some were worried about what you would say, feeling they had abandoned you.
Yet your words are gentle: ‘Peace be with you!’
We imagine their joy treasuring this peace.
‘We have seen the Lord’, the disciples tell Thomas later, But Thomas wants to see Jesus for himself.
‘Unless I see, I cannot believe!’ he declares defiantly.
One week later you meet again, and Thomas is there, no longer Doubting but Believing Thomas for evermore.
Forgive us when we label or judge others. Help us trust like the disciples, finding courage through the power of your Holy Spirit to live and share your love.
And peace, deepest peace, even in these darkest of times will soothe our troubled hearts, renewing our strength, As you come to be with us and say again these words of calm 'Peace be with you!’
Hazel McCorrisken
From the URC Prayer Handbook 2025
WORSHIP GROUP ON ZOOM 21 MAY 2025
At recent church meetings suggestions have been raised about special services we could offer. This will be on the Worship Group agenda as we look to services for the later part of this year or early next year.
If you have any suggestions for special services or worship opportunities you would like the church to offer, whether they be the theme for Sunday worship or for a special service during the week, please do pass these to Revd Mike or Andy, or attend the meeting yourself from the comfort of your own home using Zoom Code: 851 4528 3637 Pswd: business.
CHILL OUT TUESDAY
After a short break in March, Chill Out Tuesday resumed on the second Tuesday in April where we were joined by Rev Sarah Hall and we welcomed our first visitor from outside the Church community. We spent an interesting evening discussing a number of topics including wildlife photography, travel and ancient monuments, as we enjoyed our tea and coffee.
For those with daytime commitments looking for a chance to meet others after work hours, we invite you to join us at the next ‘Chill Out Tuesday’ Tuesday, 13 May 2025, from 8pm to 9.30pm in the Abbey URC Hall Lounge.
SING TO THE LORD A JOYFUL SONG! SONGS OF PRAISE SERVICE
– SUNDAY JUNE 29
Your contributions are needed! Please decide on your favourite hymn and add it to the sheet at the back of the church. But there’s more – we would like to know what makes the hymn so special to you; something in the words, something about the music or an association with a particular place or person, or a combination of all these factors.
Since I shall be leading the service, I will appreciate all the information you can give to me! Thank you for your help.
Howard C
CHURCH NEWS
Congratulations to James Moppett and Natasha Bryant who were married in our church on 26 April. We wish you a long and happy marriage.
Thank you for the lovely birthday flowers sent to me by the church. They are greatly appreciated. Jean H
Do give my kind regards to the church folk and please pass on my thanks for the lovely flowers Barbara brought recently. Love and God bless. Jean McK
MOTHERING SUNDAY
We had a lovely service for Mothering Sunday, and what a beautiful sunny day to enjoy! Thank you to everyone who attended, and to those who provided the posies for the ladies - they were so pretty!
A SPACE JUST FOR YOU ON A THURSDAY MORNING
With the warmer weather, why not walk down to Abbey Hall Lounge on a Thursday morning between 10am11.30am for a chat and a cuppa? Everyone is very welcome. It’s a place you can find some company, where you can meet with friends or you can sit quietly with a cup of tea or coffee, reading. A space ready for you to make your own, no pressure and no obligationjust a warm welcome for everyone.
ABBEY HALL WORKS UPDATE
Thérèse M has been working hard behind the scenes helping us apply for funds to help with the ongoing works in our buildings. Abbey Hall requires work to the roof, plus one of the areas which she identified as a cost saving for Abbey URC, and a more environmental way forwards, would be to replace the lighting in Abbey Hall and Lounge.
We are very excited to inform you that her hard work has paid off and so far in 2025 she has secured four grants to be used towards the roof repairs and this lighting upgrade.
Although the money raised so far will not cover the cost of the works, it will make help towards the overall total. A huge thank you to the organisations below, who have supported us so far:
• The Rotary Club of Romsey Test who donated £250 towards the lighting
• Hampshire County Council who have agreed to grant £1,000 towards the lighting upgrade
• The Syder Foundation who have donated £2,000 towards the roof repairs/LED lighting costs
• Test Valley Borough Council Councillor Grant Scheme have awarded £1,000 towards upgrading the lighting.
And, as can be read elsewhere in the magazine, a donation of £908 from the recent concert held by Romsey and Southampton Rock Choirs in aid of the Abbey Hall roof repairs
We are so very grateful to Thérèse for her hard work, the support and the time she has given is so much appreciated. Thank you!
ANNUAL GENERAL CHURCH MEETING 1
Our Annual General Meeting will be held after morning worship on Sunday, 1 June. Elders’ nominations slips are now available at the back of church to receive your nominations for elders. These must be completed and returned to Andy Bevan by 7.30pm on Sunday, 11 May.
Elders completing their term of office are Sylvia A-L, Sarah B, Wai C, Howard C, and Carole Cox. Therefore, a minimum of five elders are required to maintain the current eldership strength.
It should be noted, although everyone is welcome to attend the meeting, only church members are eligible to nominate or be nominated for election as elder, I would therefore ask all members to give prayerful consideration on who you believe would be an asset to the eldership team as we take our church into the future.
Elders do not need to beskilled in all aspects of church life, but an interest in and some knowledge of at least one area of the following would be greatly appreciated; finance, fabric, outreach, pastoral, worship and youth
Papers for the meeting will be issued on 18 May.
If you would like to know more about the role of elder within the United Reformed Church please speak to Revd Mike or any elder.
ARE YOU ABLE TO HELP?
We are again delighted to be the main venue for the Romsey Chamber Music Festival from Thursday, 5 to Sunday, 8 June. There are a total of seven concerts, six of which are for approximately one hour, with the finale concert at 6.30pm on Sunday lasting two hours. This Festival is a great opportunity for those attending the concerts to enjoy the wonderful acoustics offered by our building.
However, we do need at least one person familiar with the church to be in attendance at each concert. If you would like to know more about helping the church in this way, please do speak to me as soon as possible. Thank you.
Andy B
Andy B
EASTER AT ABBEY URC
On Palm Sunday the cross outside our church was filled with palm crosses, with passers-by invited to add one during the day.
Easter morning saw us join together for breakfast in Abbey Hall Lounge, a lovely, sociable way to break our fast on Easter morning and welcome the joy of Easter into our lives.
The Easter raffle was drawn just before the morning service, and people were excited to pick up their prizes on their way home. The Easter raffle and Easter breakfast raised £161 in total for church funds. We hope our congregation and friends enjoyed their prizes!
Our morning service, led by Andy, followed Jesus’ journey from the adoration of Palm Sunday, through the darkness of the cross to the light and joy of Easter morning when Jesus rose from the dead.
The flower arrangements in church were beautiful again and we are blessed to have such talented people in our congregation. The cross in the front garden looked a picture, adorned with flowers from our congregations and passers-by.
Thank you to everyone who helped to make Holy week so special. There was a great deal of work undertaken behind the scenes, which was much appreciated.
CALENDAR
24 10-12.30pm Church open for quiet reflection and prayer
24 1pm Wedding of Michael White and Michelle Lambert
25 10.30am Morning Worship led by Mike Woods
27 7.30pm Elders Meeting in Abbey Hall Lounge
29 10-11.30am Warm welcome coffee morning in Abbey Hall Lounge
10-12.30pm Church open for quiet reflection and prayer
10.30am Morning Worship, including Holy Communion, led by Revd Mike Perrott
11.30am Followed by Annual General Church Meeting
6.30pm Bible Study on Zoom ID 864 1780 6994 PW learning
REVD MIKE’S PREACHING ROTA FOR MAY
4 10.30 am Isaac Watts Memorial URC 11 10.30 am Avenue St Andrew’s URC (Holy Communion) 18 10.30 am Bitterne Park URC (Holy Communion) 25 10.00 am Braishfield URC
Braishfield United Reformed Church
Minister: The Reverend Mike Perrott, MA 01794 512163 e-mail: revd.mike13@gmail.com Day off: Mondays
The Reverend Doctor Sarah Hall e-mail: sarah.hall.swhg@gmail.com 02380 768004 Day off: Thursdays
Please note that the third Sunday of the month is the time to bring in tinned goods etc for the food bank collection.
News from Braishfield
May is a lovely month and is one of my favourites, not least because my maternal grandmother was also called May. I always think of her at this time of year.
We look forward to welcoming our friends from All Saints Parish Church to join us for the united Christian Aid Service on 11 May. Now confession time, I sadly won’t be at that service. I am due to be away in glorious Northumberland, but I expect a lovely service will be enjoyed by all.
It is a great tradition the two village churches take it in turn to host this annual service and it is always a lovely one to attend so if you can join us, please do.
It was great too to welcome Gwen Collins from Avenue St Andrews to our April Communion Service. It was a good opportunity to meet, and all thanks to the Southampton Marathon stopping any church services being held at Avenue St Andrews on that day.
Gwen then went on to take our Easter Day service on 20 April. We also drew the Easter egg raffle on Easter Day, it raised £50.00. Proceeds from this will go to our charity in due course though we have yet to decide which charity it will be. I hope to share an update in a future News from Braishfield.
Two of the three elders (Sharon and I) won a prize as did Gwen Collins - it wasn’t fixed!
Looking a little further ahead, the Flower Festival will be coming up and will be held on Saturday, 19 and Sunday, 20 July. Braishfield URC looks stunning with all the floral decorations so do come and have a look.
The church will be open on both days from 10am to 6pm. You are also welcome to join us for the service on the Sunday too. The Festival coincides with the Braishfield Garden Club’s Summer Show on Saturday, 19 July.
In sadder news, we were so sorry to hear of the loss of David Old and send our sympathies to Pat and the family. The funeral service was held at All Saints Parish Church and it was full. The service was followed by burial in the Braishfield churchyard.
We were also sad to hear Rhoda Williams passed away. Rhoda was Jack’s mother and mother-in-law to Maggie. Our sympathies go to Jack, Maggie, and all ofthe family. The funeral service will be held in our church on 2 May at 1pm.
We continue to keep in our thoughts and prayers all awaiting tests or who have health worries.
We look forward to welcoming the Moderator, the Reverend Michael Hopkins, to Braishfield at the end of May. Do come and join us for that service if you can. We would love to see you.
Allison Symes
ROUND THE
OF UNITED REFORMED CHURCHES
Southern Fellowship First Anniversary Service 10 May 2025
How quickly time flies. The Southern Fellowship Group will be celebrating its first anniversary service at Bitterne URC on 10 May 2025 at 3pm.
We are delighted to welcome our Synod Moderator, Revd Dr Michael Hopkins, who will be preaching at the service. Refreshments will be available after the service giving an opportunity to meet the Moderator as well as members from the other churches within the group.
Parking is available at 50p per hour in several civic car parks which are close to the church.
If you wish to attend the service a list is available at the back of church both to register your attendance and to offer or seek a lift. Alternatively, please email Andy to confirm these details. Numbers are required for catering purposes by 3 May.
Bitterne
We have a Quiz evening coming up in May to raise funds for Christian Aid who celebrate their 80th year of service providing humanitarian relief, and long-term development support, for poor communities worldwide.
The quiz evening is being held on Friday, 16 May 2025 at 7.30pm at Bitterne URC and our expert quiz master will be Hazel Roberts, from Pear Tree Green URC.
You are, of course, invited to join us. Please tell your friends.
The evening includes a Ploughman’s supper; to help with catering arrangements please let Anne Wood know by 9 May if you wish to join them. Her email is bitterneurc_sec@yahoo.co.uk. Thank you.
18 to 25 May 2025
Romsey Dementia Action Group (RomDAG) is inviting everyone in our community to come together this May for Dementia Action Week a week full of activities, support, and opportunities to connect, learn, and have fun. Whether you’re living with dementia, caring for someone who is, or simply want to support a good cause, there’s something for everyone. Most events are free or low-cost, and everyone is welcome.
Sunday, 18 May Family Dementia Information Day
10am–3pm at the Crosfield Hall, Romsey. Drop in to meet local organisations, pick up helpful information, and find out what support is available for people living with dementia and their families.
Monday, 19 May Music with Braishfield Ukulele Society
2.30pm–4pm at All Saints Church Rooms, Braishfield. Come along for a joyful singalong with familiar songs and great company. Refreshments will be served.
Tuesday, 20 May Games & Puzzles
11am for 11.30am start at Dr Peter Centre, Romsey. From chess and ludo to crosswords and jigsaws, we’ve got games for everyone. A lovely way to connect over a cuppa. Suggested donation: £2.50 per person.
Wednesday, 21 May Forever Young Dementia Day Care
9.30am–3.15pm at All Saints Church Rooms, Braishfield. Offering full or half-day sessions focused on meaningful, person-centred activities. Visit www.foreveryoungdementiadaycare.com for more info.
Thursday, 22 May Talk n’ Tea at Hillier Gardens
1pm for 1.30pm start at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Romsey. Enjoy a gentle guided walk through the gardens with curator David Jewell, followed by a delicious cream tea. Booking essential. Cream tea: £6 per person.
Friday, 23 May Music Club & Table Tennis
11am at Landford Methodist Hall A relaxed music session to sing, chat, and connect. £2 per session.
2.30pm–4pm at Abbey URC Church Hall, Romsey. Table Tennis for all abilities – come and have a go! Free to attend.
BINGO AFTERNOON
We had a lovely, social afternoon playing 6 games of Bingo on Saturday, 26 April with a raffle, and followed by a bring and share tea. It was eyes down for a full house, and Anna kept us on our toes as caller. It was an amazing spread for tea, with home prepared and home baked food and everyone tucked in with gusto. Thank you to the organisers and everyone who attended, it was so nice to catch up. £118 was raised for church funds.
UNDERSTANDING ISSUES BEHIND THE PALESTINIAN ISRAEL CONFLICT
The Interfaith Enabling Group and Commitment for Life are jointly hosting an online series to help URC members and groups deepen their understanding of some of the fundamental issues as to why the conflict in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory seems so intractable.
Coming up on 18 June at 2pm, is a webinar themed 'Antisemitism: a present-day prejudice', with Nathan Eddy, co-director of The Council for Christians and Jews. For more information and a link to all the webinars please contact commitmentforlife@urc.org.uk.
31 MAY - 8 JUNE 2025
A warm welcome to Romsey Chamber Music Festival 2025 - Coda! This year they explore music born from the brink of life’s endcompositions created amidst war, loss, and personal turmoil. Music has incredible power to bring solace, offer hope, and convey the resilience of the human spirit.
Highlights of this year's festival include Brahms C minor Piano Quartet, Strauss Four Last Songs, Messiaen Quartet for the End of Time and Crumb Black Angels. In a truly extraordinary feat, violinist Luke Hsu will perform the complete Paganini 24 Caprices in their festival home, the United Reformed Church - not to be missed!
Laura Rickard, Artistic Director, is, as always, thrilled to bring internationally celebrated musicians from across Europe to her home town of Romsey, She looks forward to welcoming music lovers to the seventh edition of the Romsey Chamber Music Festival!
Please visit https://www.romseychambermusic.com/ for full details and to book tickets.
WOULD YOU BAPTISE A ROBOT?
Theological questions from the edges of science and technology
The next meeting of the Southampton Regional Theology Forum of the Methodist Church will be held at 10am on Thursday, June 5 2025 in Romsey Methodist Church (https://www.romseymethodist.church). You are invited to join the discussion which will be led by Revd Dr Philip Luscombe, former Director of the Wesley Study Centre in Durham and Principal of Wesley House, Cambridge Theological Federation.
Philip’s rather intriguing title is “Would you baptise a robot? Theological questions from the edges of science and technology”. This will be a morning-only meeting starting with a welcome drink, and the discussion will be in a cafe-style environment, aided by the products of a Swedish Bakery from Hedge End, thanks to the help of our local zero-waste shop and cafe, Lemon and Jinja. A table of books for sale through the Oasis Christian Centre (https://oasisromsey.co.uk/) will also be available.
To mark Christian Aid week at Abbey URC we are delighted to welcome Mary Jackson to our service on 11 May. Mary will be telling us about the work of Christian Aid.
Events taking place nationally during the week include a special Service of Thanksgiving and Reflection at Westminster Abbey, by kind permission of The Dean & Chapter of Westminster, to mark the 80th Anniversary of Christian Aid, with guest speaker Rev Jerry Pillay, along with uplifting music from The Kingdom Choir. The Service will be held on Thursday, 12 June 2025 and people can register for a space at www.christianaid.org.
Further opportunities to join Christian Aid, reflect on their journey and to give thanks for the work of their partners, supporters and friends can be found on their website. The work undertaken at Christian Aid is rooted in Christian faith and one of the significant aspects of that faith is prayer. There will be online sessions you can join, and you are very welcome to drop in to pray together on 12 May 2025, 12:30pm–1pm with Christian Aid CEO Patrick Watt; it’s a combined session with staff and other supporters across England. The link to join in this, and other prayer sessions is available from the Christian Aid website.
When hope is unstoppable, change is possible.
AMERICAN
As I write this, it is now only a week until I fly back to the UK! I can’t believe it has gone so fast – what an experience.
The first week of April I was in the green mountains of Vermont with Mark Schneider, working with a large mix of horses, some of which are very unusual in the UK – such as long footed Morgans and Saddle breds. It was so interesting to see and learn about a shoeing type so different to what you're taught. Staying with Mark was a lot of fun - for one he doesn't get up too early! He also has a good balance between work and play, I got to shoot a lot of different guns – and found out I wasn’t a bad shot! We finished the week in Saratoga, shoeing some horses before taking the time to visit the racehorse museum.
I stayed in Vermont for the next week, moving to Corey Oldroyd. My stay here has been nice and relaxing, our days haven't been crazy busy and there's no service at their house so we shut off in the evenings and chose to watch a movie from their big collection. In the forge, Cory and I made tiny horse shoe belt buckles! I made a 3/4 fullered front, and Cory made a fully fullered one. His wife, Krista, had her birthday the day I arrived, so we went to an 80s music night at the local Legion with her family and friends.
One of our stops during the week was to the Merry Mac Farm Sanctuary where we got the opportunity to have a whole tour of the place after sorting the horses. They have a huge range of animals including ducks, goats, chickens, sheep, cows, pigs, donkeys, turkeys, and of course horses. It was amazing to be shown around such a versatile place, and get to pet a whole bunch of different animals!
At the end of my stay, we attended a clinic for a whole hind limb dissection with Mitch Taylor, hosted by the Vermont Farriers Association. It was an amazing clinic where we dissected an entire hind limb of a horse discussing as we went. It's interesting some of the different phrases between the UK and US anatomy
I finished my week with a one night stop over back at Nate Bruss' house - thank you so much for having me again, even if it was for a short while!
On to New Hampshire where I stayed with Tim McPhee - what an eventful and fun stay! I worked with both Tim and his old helper Logan, separately through the week, adding to the different experiences. We often finished work around 3 pm, giving time to do things outside of work, especially as the days are warming up! We played golf, shot guns, and I got on really well with Tim; he was great fun to be around as well as a font of both forging and day job knowledge. On one shooting occasion things were going really well, I was getting to shoot lots of different pistols and rifles, before being given the chance to use a large rifle. Tim told me everything I should do - except for hold the gun really tight! I made the shot, but the scope kicked back straight into my face! They were all very impressed with my shot but also very worried about the blood coming from my face! I was soon plastered up and ready to face the world - the perfect injury for the next day, when we visited the Boston Harry Potter experience!
I’ve spent my last week in Connecticut, and visited New York, but more of that in the final instalment! Looking forward to being home and seeing you all.
Kathleen x
AMNESTY UPDATE
The next meeting of the Romsey Amnesty group is on Monday, 19 May at 7.30pm. They meet in Abbey Hall Lounge, enterthe green door and turn left – the Lounge is through the last door on the right.
Chloe and Mark Angel just climbed Kilimanjaro on behalf of, and in aid of, Romsey Amnesty International group. They said it made climbing to Everest base camp seem like a 12-day party. Well done Chloe and Mark!
