THE STONE FAMILY 

Dear Friends,

 

Welcome to our round-up of family news for 2015!

 

ALASTAIR: Year has been good. Passed grade 5 singing and started learning organ, Christmas day is my last service as a boy chorister. Had the delight of year 9 mock exams as well. 

 

TIM: Majorly busy. Lots of coursework and tests. Lots of band stuff/guitars. Fun times with paintballing, Glastonbluey etc.

 

BUFF: It’s been a challenging year as my father Alan was admitted mid January to our local hospital with a terminal illness. The hospital were heroic and he was discharged to spend his last three weeks with my mother Sheila at the nursing home where she now resides. His funeral in April was a fitting celebration of a life well lived and we are grateful for all the staff that cared for Dad and continue to care for Mum. She has been a real trooper in all this and despite her dementia, sides with her grandchildren, tells me off for being bossy and noisy, and is ever a delight. We then had 45 years worth of stuff to clear from our family home and all the paperwork that goes with this! So parish life has been a balance to this with an ever growing work club and volunteering programme, children and families’ work and the encouragement of dynamic colleagues. My running times have been rubbish (Coventry parkrun is awesome) and the garden had to look after itself - fortunately raspberries are good at this. Our holidays in the Netherlands and Wales have provided welcome relief and occasional sunshine. Hoping for a calmer 2016.

 

DAVID: Life continues apace here in Coventry, with the usual mix of delights and challenges - plus a few new ones - another Radio 4 ‘Sunday Worship’, teaching a course on the Old Testament, a return to The Netherlands, joining the exec of the Association of English Cathedrals, and chaplaincy with the Air Training Corps and Blue Coat School. 

 

We send our love and best wishes for peace and joy at Christmas,

 

David, Buff, Timothy and Alastair Stone