Dear Friends and
supporters,
Much has been happening in All Saints’ since I
last wrote to you and, with the AGM coming up in May, I do hope that you
will come along and see us. We are lighter and brighter, cleaner and
tidier and we also have a newly-updated History Booklet for you to see,
and perhaps buy! We always enjoy meeting up with as many Friends and
supporters as possible for, although we know that you are all there
‘behind the scenes’, helping us along in our work in the community, it is
good to see faces from time to time.
Details of what we have been up to can be found
elsewhere in this newsletter and there is a reply slip for the AGM
attached to help us with planning the event.
I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf
of the staff and my fellow trustees, of thanking you for your
support.
Katherine Gray. Home Tel No: 01953
604954
Email:
otc@gotadsl.co.uk
THE BIG
SPRING-CLEAN!
2012 at All Saints’ started off with a big spring clean! As
we are generally short-staffed and busy, life rushes on and all sorts of
‘things’ get put in corners for when someone has time to deal with them.
In spite of having some lovely new storage cupboards fitted on the landing
last May, we hadn’t even had time, in the day-to-day activity of Centre
life, to make proper use of them, and the detritus was beginning to pile
up! We therefore decided to close the Centre for a day and have a grand
sort-out.
A dozen assorted staff, volunteers and trustees
gathered on January 12th and worked solidly all day, unearthing things
from cupboards and corners, heaping them in the body of the church and
then reorganising them, disposing of or donating to the local charity shop
anything we no longer needed or couldn’t use or sell.
Two other days followed when staff and volunteers
sorted through old paperwork in the office and filing cupboards and,
although there is still more to be done, we feel pleased with ourselves
and the Centre feels better for it!
TEMPORARY CLOSURE
In addition to the above, the Centre had to close for major
works. Repairs were needed to the kitchen floor that involved dismantling
the kitchen itself. While work was going on in that area, we decided to re-decorate the
entrance porch and toilets and to have the main floor cleaned. Michael
Hope, the Trustee in charge of the project, together with staff,
volunteers and contractors, worked hard to keep closure to minimum but,
even so, due to unforeseen complications, we were obliged to stay shut for
ten days rather than the anticipated week which was frustrating as we had
to cancel the party we had planned for our volunteers and every day we are
shut means that people are losing out and we are not getting any income;
but what was done looks good and works well so it was time and money well
spent. We managed to get funding for most of the work and are grateful to
the Geoffrey Watling Charity and private donors for that.
PAST AND FUTURE
EVENTS
We were delighted to welcome the Norfolk Keyboard Orchestra to All
Saints’ back in December. The Centre was buzzing and our staff was run off
its feet with all the extra visitors! We were not quite as busy for our Annual Carol Service but it was
an enjoyable event, as was the week of the Annual Christmas stall. This
event, together with proceeds from the Christmas Draw, raised a goodly
sum, thanks to the hard work of Sue Rolfe and her
team.
Looking to the future:- Times are hard and with our expenditure currently well over
income we are always looking for ways to supplement our takings from the
coffee bar and sundry sales, so if anyone has any fund-raising ideas, or
even better, is willing to organise one in their locality, please do let
us know. We have a few things coming up to help raise the profile of the
Centre, as well as bring a bit of extra cash in, and we hope some of you
will be able to join in or at least spread the word for us:
As the Centre now owns its own barbecue, weather
permitting, there are plans to hold a monthly barbecue throughout the
summer. These should start on the first Saturday in June but it would be
worth checking if you plan to come specially. Then, on Saturday September
8th, we are planning to hold another fete in the
church-yard. This event will again coincide with the Norfolk Churches
Trust Cycle Ride and the Heritage Open Days weekend when churches will be
getting an extra focus of attention. All being well, further events will
be highlighted in the autumn newsletter.
AGM
Our AGM will be held on Saturday 19th May at 2.30 in the
Centre, followed by tea. All are very welcome to
attend
THE QUEEN’S DIAMOND
JUBILEE
The flags will be out in June for the Jubilee, and
the Centre will be entering into the spirit of the occasion with red,
white and blue, and some themed meals on the menu. Dishes such as
Coronation Chicken and Queen’s Pudding are to be included so do come and
see us and join in the fun!
COMINGS AND
GOINGS
The Trustees are delighted to welcome Robin Evans, to the
Centre. He is joining the Trustees and has already shown his hands-on
support by helping at the Big Spring Clean by, among many other things,
sorting all the china!! He introduces himself to you:
“I have spent my life in higher education, retiring in July 2011 as
Deputy Registrar and Secretary of UEA. My job filled my life but I
became more and more conscious of how fortunate I was and how much else
there was to life. When I saw what the Centre did, and that it
needed Trustees, I responded. I am particularly glad to be part of a
Centre that makes no judgements and is open to all - the fortunate and the
less fortunate. It seems to me a wonderful haven, much needed
today.”
At the AGM, David Leathart will be standing
down as treasurer and Rev. John Minns as Trustee. Both
are unable to give the time required for the positions so have decided to
‘call it a day’. At the time of writing we are looking to recruit a
replacement treasurer and a Trustee to replace John. Our thanks to them
both for the time they have given to us.
LIBRARY
In case you didn’t know, or haven’t noticed it
lately, we would like to point out that our library of Christian books is
still in operation. A new volunteer, Jilly Baines, is currently giving it
a bit of a face-lift for us. We have a wide range of books and, if you
would like to borrow one, please sign it out (and back!) in the note-book
provided.
PRAYERS
As no opinions came back to us from the article in
the last newsletter, mid-day prayers will continue to be held on a Friday.
Please do come if you can.
DATA BASE
Sue Olver, known to many of our Friends and
supporters for her stalwart work at and for the Centre for many years, has
recently volunteered to take over the running of our data base of Friends
and supporters. She and her husband John have agreed to set up a new data
base for us and will be helping to keep everything up to date. She is also
going to help us with Gift Aid collection. We thank her most sincerely for
coming out of her ‘retirement’ to do this for
us.
GIFT AID
As you will know, the addition of Gift Aid to your
subscriptions and donations can make all the difference in the world to
charities such as ours. If you are a tax payer, it is a simple matter of
letting us know that you are prepared to Gift Aid your donations and make
sure we have your name, the first line of your address and your postcode.
If you are willing (and have not already registered with us for Gift Aid),
please do complete the attached form.
UPDATE OF HISTORY
BOOKLET
We have recently updated our booklet “The History
of All Saints’ Church”. The previous edition had sold out, so a new
edition has been printed, with a rather delightful image of All Saints’
and Westlegate on the cover. There is an interesting story attached to
this picture which is described in the foreword to the booklet, and, if
you have not yet read a copy previously, the contents are fascinating. At
just £2 per copy, I hope you will buy one when you next come our
way.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Subscription reminders are enclosed where
appropriate. Could we please request that any subs. handed into the Centre
as cash be accompanied with your name and contact details. This helps our
staff to keep a correct record of money received.
FINALLY….
To save postage costs, please do let us know if
you no longer wish to receive our newsletters or if you are able to
receive them by email. Thank you for your
help.