Dear Friends

Thank you. I wish to send my deep and heart-felt thanks to everyone in our Parish for all the kindness you have shown towards me over the last two or three months.

There is a very satisfying sense of accomplishment to have completed the 86 mile walk along Hadrian's Wall from Bowness-on-Solway in the West to Wallsend in the East, a journey from the Irish Sea to the North Sea. We took seven days plus an eighth morning to finish the job and finished in high spirits albeit with sore feet!

The wonderful parishioners of this Parish plus many of my friends from elsewhere have been amazingly generous with sponsorship moneys and I am delighted to say that you have all raised a little over £2,750.00 for Parish Funds once the Gift Aid has been added. I am thrilled and thankful.

May I also take this opportunity to thank Marek for his assistance with all the document production, Lucia and Trudi in the Parish Office for their help, guidance and encouragement and all those Parish Welcomers who have helped me to catch you all at the back of Church each Sunday ! This has really been a team effort. Most of all, I must thank Tony Douglas from Henrys Menswear Shop in Sheep Street who walked every inch of the way with me and my wife Adrienne for all her work and bookings in advance of the trip. Finally, our master charioteer, Stewart Holmes, who drove over 1200 miles in the week, dropping us off and picking us up at the start and end of each day! It was also lovely that my son, Paul, and daughter, Catharine, with their spouses and our three wives also walked large sections with us along the way, not to forget Harley and Tilly, the two dogs! Quite a support team !!

We had a great time, the weather was kind and I knew your prayers were with us.

God bless you all and thank you from the bottom of my heart,

Richard.