We are looking forward eagerly to the return of this summer’s visitors to Nkokoto so that we can hear updates on our projects. Ian Lever has once again arranged for a film to be made showing the life of the village. This time he is accompanied by Jacqui Oliver, whose experience and expertise in family welfare will be invaluable. We have been told that Jacqui’s blond hair will be fascinating to the women and girls so we are very grateful to Brooks (in the High Street) who have donated some hair care products. Jacqui is looking forward to letting her new Nkokoto friends ‘have a go’ at doing her hair and we hope there will be photos of the results!

Two prospective members were welcomed to the July meeting and various items of business discussed including, volunteer help with Austerity lunch, assisting with picking up litter on the common; a visit to the theatre at Bath; the W I Christmas show; arrangements for our August meal when we will become ‘Ladies who dine’; and a survey about foodstuffs and marking the country of origin (which was rather tedious but we all agreed on the answers!).

The Royal British Legion is to celebrate its 90th year in 2011. We as the Minchinhampton Branch, both Ladies’ and Men’s Sections are looking forward to arranging community celebrations during the year. Our Headquarters are at the Cotswold Club in the High Street.

Whilst age robs us of members from time to time, we are fortunate in being able to recruit new members, some serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, even one flying regularly out of Lyneham to those areas.

Over a year ago our area Dean, The Reverend Canon Stephen Bowen, put forward a proposal to the Deanery Synod that in October this year we would have a Stroud Deanery Mission. This proposal was enthusiastically accepted and then it went on to obtain the full support of our two Bishops, Michael and John and our Diocesan Missioner, Andrew Braddock. After the initial proposal, each benefice, or parish was invited to hold an event, or events, that would reach out to those on the fringes of our churches, and beyond, who we never see.

Our June meeting was conducted by our vice president, Miss Sue Bromley, as Mrs Sue Smith was attending the National W.I. AGM in Cardiff. Some members had attended ‘The Common Edge’ group meeting which was hosted by Box W.I. and all agreed they had thoroughly enjoyed the evening and had found the speaker most interesting and entertaining when she enlightened us on the contents of the honeymoon suitcase through the ages.

I do hope you all had a chance to see the Mothers’ Union display in the Lady Chapel, telling of the worldwide work of the Mothers Union. After all the hard work of the two-week festivities it’s now time for a rest and to enjoy some family life.

Happy holidays to all and safe journeys too. Hope to see you at the Amberley Flower Festival and at their fund raising activities.

At our June committee meeting we were very pleased to welcome Phil, Johanna and Lucien to tell us about their African adventure. They brought some wonderful photos of Nkokoto people and told us of meeting some who featured in our film. Hearing how they managed to design and build the play equipment for the school in such a short time was amazing and we were glad to be able to thank them in person. The next visitors to Nkokoto, in August, will be Ian Lever and Jacqui Oliver so the next magazine will carry a report from them of how our various projects are progressing, and what new ideas they have for us as a result of meeting the Elders and other Nkokoto villagers. As always, warm thanks to our generous supporters.

I hope that everyone enjoyed our Minchinhampton 750: Faith in the Community festival. After the African Zombie! Concert, African family meal in the school, and the pageant procession showing off the many facets of our church and town we should all be worn out. Congratulations to all.
Having lived here since 1969 we have served under five rectors and celebrate 57 years of Holy Matrimony (it was called thus in 1953 and rationing was still with us). We thank God for our many blessings and, being great grandparents now, especially for our family. May we all encourage and welcome all young people and families and support them with our prayers.

We have been enjoying getting together with the Masasi Support Group to organise the Africa Weekend as part of the great 750 celebrations. We feel sure everyone found something to enjoy and naturally we hope that many people will want to support the work our two organisations undertake in Tanzania.

The Mothers Union started here in 1889 and has continued ever since. Our numbers today are low but when we came here in 1969 numbers were high with 99 members. Benita Cornwall had open house for young mums and their families (they had four children, the youngest, Lenny, was seven years old. Angie is still with us, and Mary and Mark moved away.