Blaisdon Reunion
Once again, thanks to the enormous work of our President, Charles
Springett, we had a wonderful Reunion on Sunday 29th August 2004.
We started with Mass celebrated by Fr Sean Murray SDB at St Michael's
Church, the one on the hill. As has become a welcome practice, we then
remembered the lives of many members of the Salesian Family resting in the
graveyard at St Michael's and sang with ever greater gusto the
traditional "Salve Regina" (Hail Holy Queen), which has a great emotional
impact on many of us.
We were honoured again with the presence of Jim Richards, Director of the
Catholic Children's Society (Westminster) and his wife. We also had the
pleasure of hosting again a number of the Blaisdon Village residents,
including the Chairman of the Parish Council, who made a short intervention
to say how the village would want to see these Reunions continue, and his
wife, who make us so welcome and provide the Village Hall for our Reunion
buffet.
We held a raffle for this year's GB Federation project to raise our £1,000
share of the cost of providing electric generators for the Salesian
Polytechnic in Liberia. Members bought tickets so furiously that we ran out of
tickets and had to ask people if they would like to donate back some of
those purchased to sell more. This was also generously responded to. It is
believed we raised £200 - £300 from the raffle. Barney Grace, our ever
available Altar Server, having bought raffle tickets, also promised to send
a cheque to "Smile 2004", the project Bank Account, for £500. This generous
gesture received a rapturous applause.
As is usual, when all the formalities are over there seems to be a
reluctance to leave and many stay and chat to former friends and make new
ones at these well supported events. A sure sign that Charlie's efforts
were appreciated.
We did not forget that there was a most important celebration taking place
at Shrigley, for their 75th anniversary, and we raised our glasses and
voices to show our solidarity with another great event taking place at the
same time a few hundred miles away.
A few photographs of the Blaisdon event are below give just a taste of what
you missed if you did not come.
Click on the picture below to see some more.
