In response to an urgent appeal from MU members in East Africa who were trying to feed starving people suffering their third year of famine, our branch set out to raise funds.

Thanks to a good response from members and friends, we sent over £400, enabling basic food to be bought.

At 2.00 p.m on Friday 5 March, the annual Women's World Day of Prayer Service will take place in All Saints' Church. Are there still people out there who think this has something to do with a women's magazine? It's for all women who would like to support those in less fortunate countries of the world (this year the republic of Cameroon) so please support us; the members of the URC congregation share the organising in alternate years.

Here is another appeal, this time for small posies of flowers to be given out at the Mothering Sunday Service on 14 March.

Our next Branch meeting is on Wednesday 17 March, when our speaker will be John Ledbury. Come along to the Reading Room and be entertained.

Rosemary Hodges

Beryl welcomed us to our AGM on 28 January, and after Pat had given the Treasurer's report, summarised the previous year's activities. As Pam Hunt was retiring from the committee, she was thanked, and given a basket of flowers. Frances Groucott was then welcomed as a new committee member.

Anne Ford, Jackie Walker and Gill Whiting then gave an insight into the work and training involved in being a pastoral visitor. Although they are all working on behalf on All Saints’, there is no pressure on clients to convert.

The focus is always totally on the individual person, and how to help them.

They all undertake rigorous training given by an expert who leads them through the course. They have to learn how to listen, which sounds easy, but, done properly is quite difficult. They are non- judgemental and totally confidential.

Sometimes a person's need will be very down to earth: form filling or providing information and sometimes, after a bereavement for instance, supporting and comforting. They always go with no agenda and are entirely centred on the needs of the person they are visiting.

I found that, listening to them, it was obvious that they were all very committed to this much needed service.

Chris Elliott