| Newsletters of the Friends of Bolton Priory |
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Editor Geoff Roberts
OUR EDITOR
Our editor, Professor Geoff Roberts has been in hospital for the past four weeks and has recently returned home. On behalf of the friends, we wish him a speedy recovery.
ADVENT WINE and CHEESE PARTY
On the evening of Sunday 30th November following the regular
Advent Carol Service in the Priory 60 members of the Friends assembled in
the Boyle Room to enjoy an evening of conviviality. As they entered the
room they were met by an inspirational vision of black and white covering
the central table. Serviettes, table cloths, plates and flowers in matching
perfection complimented by a sumptuous display of mince pies and cheeses
supported by a range of sweetmeats and savouries for the most discerning
of palates.
Behind the table stood our two hostesses Jill Riley and Jenny Laycock resplendent
in matching black and white aprons who together with ladies on the committee
had produced this magnificent repast. Conversation flowed and it is testament
to all their endeavours that when clearing up, all the food had gone and
there was also a generous pile of empty wine bottles.
Heartfelt thanks to all who enabled Members of the Friends
to enjoy such an excellent evening
SPRING LECTURE
"A Poverty of Knowledge"
Presented by Mrs Peta Moffat
On a beautiful Spring evening a packed Village Hall was spell-bound listening to Peta Moffat, wife of our Rector, talk about her work in East Africa as the latest in our illustrious list of Lecturers.
James Pearson, Chairman of the Friends, commenced proceedings by asking the Rector to lead in the Friends’ Prayer, after which he welcomed everyone to the 2009 Spring Lecture. The Chairman then introduced Mrs Peta Moffat and invited her to present this year’s Spring Lecture.
Peta said that there had been a lot of expectation for her lecture and she intended to use broad brush strokes to describe her job as Link Officer between the Wakefield Diocese and the Mara Diocese, which is in North West Tanzania, next to the border with Kenya and on the eastern side of Lake Victoria in East Africa. [Tanzania is four times the size of the UK with half the population].
She was unusual in that her job is actually paid, which shows the importance of the link between the two Dioceses. There are now about 100 links (with a small ‘l’) between different parishes in Wakefield giving support to particular parishes in Mara. There are huge cultural differences between the two Dioceses but they are joined together by a common belief in Jesus and an insistent Gospel urge to help the poor. The cultural differences are enormous and within the church. Homosexuality presented a challenge. The Tanzanian Bishops would not receive any money from church organizations if people in the USA and other places continued with the belief that homosexuality is acceptable. Poverty of knowledge was such that there was no understanding of the difference between orientation and practice.
Bega kwa bega – “Shoulder to Shoulder” is their motto where they each try to understand each other. Members of the Executive Committee became interested in water and ‘Elephant Pumps’ made from local materials were constructed. Photographs were sent to show how the money had been spent with the Elephant Pump next to a large hole. On querying this Peta was told that the large hole was for the village latrine – no one had thought to say this was NOT what you did. Water for Life plus Health Education is much more important. There is poverty of knowledge on both sides and the sooner we get talking to each other the better .Peta is clearly energized by her work but accepts that it is a slow, organic approach. She gave many examples during her talk of misunderstandings on both sides because of cultural differences.
Peta said she had been going to cover the Millennium Goals
1 – 7; all of which are definitely what the Mara/Wakefield link is
all about. However the link is based on relationships, the exchange of knowledge
and as the parish links mature the exchange of knowledge happens. Last year
at Bradford Cathedral Rowan Williams at a 25th Anniversary service for the
death of his father in law, a missionary in India, said: “Saying is
not enough or indeed hearing but listening within a complex inter-relationship
of communication is what is required”.
Recently there have been two or three media events out of a rich abundance
of reporting and exploration of African topics: Comic Relief showing celebrities
crying, malaria, how the money raised is used; the television series “The
1st Ladies Detective Agency” Peta felt was patronizing and cheapens
Africa – but Peta has a quote from the author, Alexander McCall Smith,
in the front of her work book: “It’s a philosophy of life which
involves respect for others, an attitude of appreciation and courtesy. You
greet people, you ask after them, you engage with them. You recognize their
person. It gives them the dignity they deserve”. Peta said that perhaps
her strongest relationship outside of her family is with the Headmaster
of the Secondary School; he had taught her a lot. Lastly, the Pope’s
visit to Africa. His view on condoms may not be a realistic one, in a world
where one estimate gives 33 million as those infected by HIV. Mara is good,
HIV counselling is confidential; the Centre is on the main road; and there
is an encouraging ‘outing’ of the reason for death, for example
a boy at the school admitted that his uncle had died of AIDS.
There are the beginnings of a good approach with the ABC: It was Abstinence, Be Careful, and Condoms but became Abstinence, Be and Careful – they split the ‘be’ and ‘careful’ as they don’t believe in condoms. One of the party for the next visit to Mara is a Sexual Health Nurse who will explore this further. Young people want to know about family planning.
Karibu – “Welcome” Peta showed some slides of the schools showing her work. She said that eight years of being involved had made tremendous progress on the gender front. From a girl/boy ratio of 5/80 students the ratio was now 37/80.
Another project was tree planting. From small beginnings 10,000 trees had been planted so far and five cows had been added this year to give milk to the school. The Government had now opened Primary school education to all and it had been decided that Nursery education should be offered next.
Amongst the slides was one of the last visit to Parceval Hall by a Mara group – the next visit to Parceval will be in September this year. Peta’s last two slides were one of two people talking to each other which is what it is all about, and secondly, the more conventional stunning sunset as a finale. She asked her audience to choose which was the most apt and not surprisingly, the exchange of views by two people talking together was chosen to typify what Peta had been putting across during the evening.
Peta thanked everyone for listening and sharing the links and took questions from the audience.
Barry Cody proposed the vote of thanks to Peta and said that Peta had enthralled us with her information, enthusiasm and professionalism – what a canvas of Africa she had shown! He thanked Peta on behalf of everyone for sharing her work with us and presented her with a donation from the Friends for the Mara project.
The evening continued with coffee and home-made biscuits and much discussion on a fascinating subject – another example of links being forged to aid understanding.
The editor is grateful to Chris Dale for this contribution.
CONGRATULATIONS
We send our warmest congratulations to Dr Christopher Davidson on celebrating his 99th birthday and Jean Walker who celebrated her 88th birthday last month.
YORK BOAT SUMMER OUTING 18th JUNE.
The 33 seater coach is now fully subscribed. It is suggested that any members who might still wish to go on this trip, contact York Boats direct on 01904 628324 to see if they have any remaining seats available on the boat that day. It would of course mean using your own transport to travel to York.
Details of the cruise trip are as follows
10.00 a.m Depart Bolton Abbey village car park
12.00-3.30 p.m Boat trip and lunch
3.30 -5.00 p.m Free time
5.00 p.m Evensong York Minster
7.30 p.m Arrive back at Bolton Abbey
AUTUMN THEATRE VISIT 8th DECEMBER
We are intending to book seats for the production of the Railway Children at the Ilkley Play House. The evening will start with a finger buffet & a glass of wine before we see the play. The cost will be £18.00 per person. Booking details will be in the next newsletter.
NOTES FOR YOUR DIARY
AGM 24th MAY
29th November Advent Wine & Cheese
8th December, theatre visit
AGM
The AGM will be held in the Village Hall on Sunday 24th May 2009 at 12.15 p.m. and this will be followed by the usual excellent buffet lunch. Application for tickets for the lunch are at the end of this newsletter
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APPLICATION FOR LUNCH TICKETS at THE ANNUAL GENERAL
MEETING
IN THE VILLAGE HALL on 24th MAY 2009
PRICE £ 8.50 pp
Ticket application together with a stamped addressed envelope
should be sent to;
Mrs Anna Hartley, Netherwood Farm, Skipton Road, Ilkley.LS29 9RP
NAME : ……………………………………………………………………………………………
ADDRESS:…………………………………………………………………………………………
TELEPHONE NO:………………………………NO
TICKETS: ………………………………
CHEQUE ENCLOSED FOR:……………………………………….. ………………………….
Please apply for tickets to ; Mrs Anna Hartley, Netherwood
Farm, Skipton Rd. Ilkley LS29 9RP.
Cheques should be made out to “ Friends of Bolton Priory” and
please enclose a stamped addressed envelope