VWPilgrim

First published 28th May 2023

Following on from the excitement of London it was good to be back in Cambridge for the Ely leg of the pilgrimage.  Family commitments and goings on meant It was he

lpful to be at home this week. As I was home I could help my youngest daughter with her revison for her sociology mock A level.  Which, isn’t always helpful thing to do on this subject, as her older sister discovered.  Apparently writing ‘this sociologist says this, and another thinks that, but my dad thinks that they are both wrong or stating the bloody obvious’, doesn’t provide a satisfactory answer to the question – any question!  On top of family commitments there were a couple of ‘official’ things that despite being on sabbatical I wanted to attend.

Firstly, my week in the Ely diocese just ‘happened’ to coincide with the Cambridge Beer Festival.  A huge event held on Jesus Green each year.  Being the ‘self-appointed unofficial chaplain’ to the beer festival, and the fact that it hasn’t happened in the last three years due to COVID, meant it was too important to miss. No official Good Shepherd church outing to the beer festival this year (it will return) but It didn’t take long for me to find someone who I knew, bumping into many others throughout the evening. I was joined by Peter and Claire, Fiona and Chris and we spent an enjoyable evening studiously not talking about church, focusing on the beer, families and holidays!  

I did pop back to the festival with Oskar on Friday for his evening walk. Oskar likes a pub and a beer festival, well then he’s in heaven.  A lovely young lady, with sparkly makeup and a camera round her neck, asked if she could pet Oskar.  This is a common occurrence, but she then sat down on the grass with us both and we proceeded to have a nice 20 minute chat about dogs, recovery and sour beer.  Her boyfriend runs a brewery that specialises in sour beer and we delved into the pro’s and cons and how you need to stick with it if you are drinking a pint.   She then asked if she could take a picture of Oskar, who, now slightly enamored with the nice lady, obliged.  With that she cheerfully went on her way.  Did strike me that, as a middle aged man on his own, sitting on the grass drinking beer, how much more approachable you seem with a lovely black lab!

Thursday morning saw me at the Guild Hall in Cambridge to witness Cllr Jenny Gawthrope Wood become the cities mayor. She had very kindly asked me to be her chaplain, and in her speech she spoke very warmly about the work of the Good Shepherd in the community. I got to know Jenny because I was the her husband’s chaplain when he was mayor four years ago. Nigel (Gus to his friends) was a great councillor, mayor and keen motorcyclist who tragically died during his mayoral year. Nigel had asked me to be his chaplain because we had shared interest in social action, motorbikes and real ale. I really enjoyed being his chaplain and was very sad when it was cut short so suddenly. (https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/news/hundreds-turn-out-for-mayors-last-ride-9063050/)

Since Nigel’s death, Jenny has also become a great local councillor and this year has been elected mayor.  She will be a brilliant mayor, working on behalf of all of Cambridge, the rich and the poor parts, and it is a real honour to support her as chaplain.  The Mayor’s charities this year are ParkinsonsUK (https://localsupport.parkinsons.org.uk/) and The Red Hen project (https://www.redhenproject.org/).  The Red Hen is a wonderful little charity that has a big impact with families in the north of the city and has strong connections with the Good Shepherd.  The service was followed by lunch which was served by Turtle Dove (https://www.turtledovecambridge.com/).  Another great organisation, that the Good Shepherd have a strong connection with.  Turtle Dove gives opportunities, supports and empowers young women not in education or employment.  Quick chat to Kate, the inspirational founder and head of Turtle Dove and it was time for home and a nap before the not so long trip up to Ely.

3:40pm I climbed into Molly, began my ‘warmitup’ ritual and Ian Drury started to list ‘Reasons to be cheerful’(part 3).  He wrote the song after a near fatal incident involving a roadie, and as someone who was also involved in a near fatal incident and sometimes struggles with his mental health, I know the benefit of stopping and remembering what we should be thankful for.  In my daily journal I make a note of things that I am grateful for that day, or things that have brought me joy, as it’s so easy to forget.  I share some of these as ‘points of praise’ in my weekly memo to the Ministry team.

Always makes me smile that song and I set off, adding my own verse of reasons I am cheerful, Hazel, my girls, my family, dog,…and the fact that after 215 miles we have not broken down yet!