Congratulations to Hazel Goodfellow, and a fond farewell as she makes the short move from the Cathedral staff to take charge of St Bartholomew's parish. Her place in the Sidbury- Highlands- Alicedale plurality is being taken by Linda Schwartz, who will be working more closely with the Cathedral staff as a result. We welcome Linda, who will also continue to be the Chaplain of DSG.
We welcome back a number of Cathedral family members who have been overseas. Due to industrial action on the airlines, some of them had more eventful return journeys than they would have wished. Peter and Elizabeth Breetzke finished their voyage with a bus trip from George, having been to Dublin, Ireland and Denver, USA, as well as a ski resort in the Rocky Mountains called Breconridge (but it was high summer, so the snow was only enough to look at). They enjoyed getting to know their grandchildren, now aged 5 and 2. Mother Carol eventually returned from London a whole day late, and was routed via East London despite her overseas flight coming into Cape Town. Brian Stone's tour around England and Wales included lunch in Cirencester with Helena and Warwick Heathcote. They are well, sent love to all at the Cathedral, and reiterated how much they enjoy having visitors from Grahamstown. Brian arrived in London on 7 July, and not knowing about the bombs, wondered where all the people were! By the time he got to his hotel the city had ground to a halt and his sight-seeing had to be done on foot. But the next day amazingly everything seemed to be back to normal. Marian Walwyn has torn herself away from granddaughter Charlotte and is home from New Zealand. Des and Jeanette Eve are also off to England and Wales, and we pray they have a smooth journey.
At St Andrew's College the 150th anniversary party just went on, and on. One of the highlights took place in the Cathedral, which was packed for a Eucharist on 9 August with no less than four bishops present: our own Bishop Thabo, our former Dean Michael Nuttall, Bishop Colin Johnson of Toronto and Archbishop-Emeritus Desmond Tutu, who was the preacher. The combined St Andrew's -DSG choir was joined by the choirs of Nombulelo and VG Schools, and their version of the Prayer for Africa brought tears to the eyes. Also present were the 70 Grade 11 boys and several adults (some of them descendants of Bishop Merriman) who had walked from Uitenhage, retracing the steps of the energetic Merriman when he had set out to lay the original foundation stone of St Andrew's. Advance publicity had included plans to bring three of the Bishops with headmaster David Wylde from the Cathedral to the school in a horse-drawn carriage for the unveiling of the new foundation stone. The horse and carriage duly arrived, and the party climbed aboard. They were told the horse had undergone a course of training to prepare him to the sound of the bagpipes, using a whistle. Unfortunately when the horse heard the actual sound of bagpipes behind him, the only thought in his mind was flight. Archbishop Tutu quipped that the thought of three bishops and a headmaster as a burden had caused the horse to "boycott" the event, and later remarked that when the frightened creature decided to "go to the bathroom in front of us" the episcopal party made the decision to disembark and walk. Incidentally, special congratulations are due to David Hodgson, one of those who undertook the "Merriman walk" from Uitenhage. He celebrated his 73rd birthday along the route.
With so many men and boys around it would have been almost possible to forget during the morning that 9 August was Women's Day, but the afternoon's well attended and moving service led by Sub-Dean Suzanne Peterson made up for that.
Dimmie Randell has recently sent one of her most treasured sculptures, the head she made of her late daughter Tessa, to go on display in the Ann Bryant Gallery in East London.
Paddy Tandy and Margaret Kannemeyer have both had successful eye operations, and we give thanks. Penny Whitford is delighted with the effect of just a few sessions of acupuncture on the process of healing her broken ankle. Marijke Cosser is back at work, Fiona Coyne has been discharged from hospital, and Dilys Palmer is out and about again. Peter Pienaar's health has also improved, and he is able to function as a lay minister at the services at Somerset Place. Derek Nelson suffered a massive heart attack some weeks ago, but is making a pleasing recovery.We continue to pray for Margaret Kenyon, who at the time of writing was still unconscious over two weeks after collapsing on a hike.
The Synod of the Diocese of Grahamstown followed hard on the heels of last month's Provincial Synod, and was held in Selborne College East London, with the opening service at St Alban's Church. Siphokazi Njokweni and Michael Whisson represented the Cathedral at a Synod which covered a great deal of ground in a short time, despite the temperature which was unseasonably in the 30's. Paul Walters was also present as an invited guest, and led a session on setting a vision for the diocese.
The Bishop of Toronto, Colin Johnson, was present for the whole Synod, and with Bishop Thabo signed a document renewing the twinning agreement between the two dioceses. He and his wife Ellen were in the diocese long enough to visit the Queenstown area, East London/ Gonubie and Grahamstown (twice). On their second visit here Suzanne Peterson brought Bishop Colin along with her to a marimba practice, and he had great fun trying his hand at playing a couple of pieces. At present Suzanne has as her guests two women from the USA. Claire Dodds is working at the local Hospice for a while doing an evaluation. Her partner Karen Johannes, who is a theological student at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in California, came during her vacation and unexpectedly found herself invited to preach at Evensong in the Cathedral. A warm welcome to them both.
All good wishes to Dean John for a refreshing leave over the month of September.
Maggy
Please send news for People and Places to:
Maggy Clarke, 26 Somerset Street, Grahamstown.
Tel. 046 622 7803 (home), 046 636 1996 (work),
e-mail:
bobandmaggy@imaginet.co.za