Dear friends

Imagine the situation…… A nation divided between the ‘have’s’ and the ‘have not’s’…. conflict ever present in society over different views about sovereignty…… a general distrust of foreigners…. people unsettled, angered, frustrated….. economically, things not going well…… a lack of trust in national leaders…a sense of hopelessness for the future……. a nation at odds with itself.…..and in the background, the threat of terrorism always lurking.

There was much hilarity and laughter during the evening of FMCs Variety Show, which took place on 15th November. The audience loved the children - from the Rainbows, the Guides and the Scouts and Cubs - with their songs, sketches and stories. We were wowed by the encyclopaedic knowledge of our Property Team of social media! Poems were recited by Moira and by Jean Northey, who reminded us of why ‘Albert and the Lion’ is such a favourite (especially when told with a Yorkshire accent!). The dramatisation of ‘Cinderella’ was a triumph, starring Andrew Whetter as Cinders.

On Sunday 27th October, we all made our way to Berkeley Vale for the final service of the United Reformed Church with Trinity Baptists. We have had a long association with the congregation there, and in recent years the links have grown closer. Of course, the building was a Methodist Church before the URC moved there, so there was a sense of great nostalgia for that occasion. In addition, the love we all had for Pat Whittaker, who died in the Spring, was in our minds throughout.