A very Methodist "do"

We made the journey to New Silksworth in Sunderland today for a special leaving party. Mum became involved with the New Silksworth Methodist Church congregation on Zoom during Covid. She has attended Bible studies and coffee mornings and has watched their weekly services on YouTube.

Today, the congregation was saying thank yous and good byes to Richard, their minister. He has been with them for 4 years, much of it through Covid. He and his wife Rachel are retiring now. Richard came out of retirement to work with this congregation and they have loved having him there.

Our journeys were hard going. There was a lot of traffic and a few road works on the way there and very heavy showers and surface water on the return leg. Mum found her part of the car much too hot and we could not work out what was going on, since I was fine.

We arrived just before the start time, but, in typical Methodist fashion, nearly everyone else was already seated at the tea tables.

There were brief speeches - to the point (hooray) and a quiz about Richards. Our table answered all the questions (but so did everyone else!)

Mum is seen here with the two other centenarians in the room. Myrtle on her right is 101 at the end of September,  Mum is 101 at the beginning and Winnie is 102 later in the year. Amazing.

Myrtle's daughter has worked for SSAFA and told us that she was able to source Winnie's war medals. She had been in the WRAF but never received her medals. 

We are planning a quiet day tomorrow!!