AGM on Monday 7pm

St Albans Cathedral

7pm Refreshments
7:30 Start
Guest Speaker the Bishop of Bedford.

Canterbury Province Festival

My thanks go out to all those who helped organise and run the Canterbury Province festival. It was a massive undertaking for our small branch and I believe from the feedback it was as good a festival as any other.
We got a few things wrong after some many months of planning, like we forgot the information in braille for one member, but for the rest we seemed to get it just about right. We had Micheal Golby to thank for much of this. He had done one of these before and using his skills and experience he steered us away from most of the common pitfalls.

The Yellow sashes worn by the branch members made us look distinctive and helped others know who their guides for the day were.

We managed to (after a long time) get our elected chaplain to be admitted as a Branch Chaplain by the Guild Chaplain Rev Canon Maureen Palmer at the event.

My little boy (Paul) all 6ft 3" of him was admitted as a full member of the Guild now he was 18/9 Both my boys seem to stand out in the photos as being rather tall. He is off to university at the moment and exploring Leatherhead in lodgings with some other members of the Guild. Although he won't be around much he might be able to help out another branch for a while.

Karen Cursons, one of our newest members from Leighton Buzzard became a new Full member of the Branch and Guild.









Rosamund Russell, the Branch Secretary, became a full member from previously being an Associate Member.

Together with members of other branches new members of the Guild were admitted at the Lunchtime Eucharist by Rev Canon Maureen Palmer.

We followed the service by a quick walk over to a local restaurant Lussmans.






In the afternoon Guided tours took place for several members, with a special tour for Carol who do a tour on her own, looking at the Cathedral in her own unique way.

The day finished with Choral evensong starting with a procession of Vergers led in by Frank lanes Virge and the Fellows being led in by the Millennium Virge. The Service was led by the boys choir.

The Day finished with the traditional Photograph.

Lengthening a Cassock

Unlike many vergers by two sons are a bit younger than the rest and are still growing. This gives problems to the length of cassocks as they need longer and longer ones. My youngest son is 6ft 3" and rather hefty.  Talking to a friend we managed to find Paul and old second hand cassock. Trying to find the width was bad enough but the length as well seemed impossible.

This cassock was just wide enough but was too short. Fortunately my wife is a good seamstress and had some ideas.

The bottom hem had actually been taken up and letting this down added a inch. We undid the bottom seam and this gave a very frayed edge but gave about another 3 inches.

My wife put bias binding over the edge adding another 1cm and protesting the fraying.

 Pinning on the bias Binding, stitching it then folding it over and stitching it again

Adding about 41/2 inches to the bottom hem

Looking better for length. Now to sort out the sleeves.

I undid the lining from the hem

then we repeated the adding the bias binding.

 The finished edge, not a good as the original but
about 2 1/2inches longer.

Now all we have to do is get rid of some of the holes.

This will require some darning and patching to give the best possible finish.

Now this is finished all that is required is the movement of four buttons to give a slightly better fit and my some will have a "new cassock".

Last Festival Planning Meeting 12th August

The last of the Festival Planning meetings is on 12th August at my house at 7:30pm  After this the following meetings will be action meetings, training,  licking and sticking etc

The time will soon be upon us and there are still quite a few jobs to plan and organise.

Summer outing 20th August Canal Trip 9-5:30

Glebe Canal Cruises

The boats will accommodate 10/12 persons and all feature a cabin with galley and toilet compartment. In the galley there is a sink with running water, a two-ring gas hob, crockery, cutlery, teapot, saucepan and washing up materials. Forward of the cabin is a covered open air deck which can be enclosed by side screens should the weather turn unpleasant.
These boats are designed to be easy to operate even for the complete novice. They are relatively short in narrow boat terms (approx 30ft) and are simply steered by tiller from the stern. They are powered by quiet modern diesel engines with a forward and reverse gearbox operated by one easy to use lever. We supply all the fuel and gas that you will need and plenty of water for your cruise.

Location

Grebe Canal Cruises Ltd., Pitstone Wharf, Cheddington Road, Pitstone, Buckinghamshire, England. LU7 9AD

Boats are available from 9.30am until 5.30pm

Suggest we gather in car park at boatyard from 9.15 onwards .We shall leave as soon as everyone has come.  To get most out of day please be prompt as possible.

The summer outing Tuesday August 20^th 2013    9.15 am to 5.30pm. 

Cost £15.00 per head (Please make cheques payable to St Albans Diocesan Guild of Vergers)

          

Return to Rosamund Russell, Branch Secretary, 53 Hilldown Road, Gadebridge, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP1 3JD or via email to admin@stalbansvergers.org.uk  or phone 01442 217754 

We are trying to provide a variety of food catering for up to 24 people but we do not all want to bring the same things. If you want to let me know what you are prepared to bring as well as Tony I can try and make sure we do not have lots of the same thing.

Tea and coffee will be provided anything else you need to bring yourself.

Festival Training Day 2nd Sept 2013

Get ready for the Festival Training Day. Many jobs have to be filled to ensure a successful day out for the Guild.

Many of you volunteered at the Alban Supper, but still more people are required.

We still need a car Shuttle service for about 6-10 people.

The Training Evening has been confirmed at St Saviours Church St Albans, on Monday 2nd Sept at 7:30pm. Here you will be trained and shown how to register the visitors, given the full plan for the day, so you can tell everyone what is happening, and that you can direct people to where they need to be.

We are still very short of the necessary volunteers so we will need to rope in some other people to help us.

The Festival is comming

It won't really be long until the festival is upon us.Things are really gearing up now. The Service book is nearly complete. The team leaders have been appointed for the day. The training Day has been organised for the week before, hopefully at St Savours Church.
We have the Lunch menu done and badges and place settings have been organised. There is a preparation day , sorting out the badges organised for the beginning of the week of the Festival.
At the St Alban supper jobs and roles will be assigned so be prepared!