Dear Friends,

It seems a long time since the 3^rd December. It was a cold, dull day with slight drizzle in the wind as Rob, my husband, and I walked along Turvey High Street for the first time. We were greeted by two people walking their dogs and by someone who was going into the Central Stores. We had a good look at the Church, ate some excellent sandwiches in ‘The Cranes’ and decided Turvey was a place where we could live and feel at home.

Now, in the sunshine, we are beginning to find places to put all the things we have collected over thirty-six years of married life. Turvey feels even more friendly and welcoming and we are both delighted to be here. Thank you to all who have helped to make our first few days here so pleasant; to those who have sent cards and to those who have fed us so splendidly. Especially ‘thank you’ to Gill and David Betts, to Len Savage and to Bob Keep, who have made sure that the Rectory is in very good order as we move in.

Living in Turvey is a big change for us; that is why I read Robert’s letter in the last newsletter with interest. Change is such a loaded word and sometimes can imply that what went before was wrong. I have to say that I hate change. That is why it has taken thirty-one years for me to move house! Yet those who recognised Jesus of Nazareth as their Lord and Saviour were prepared to turn their lives upside down, and sometimes to risk death in doing so.

The next few weeks and months will be different for all of us, for me and for you, as we get to know each other and as we learn to work together. Obviously I am not like any of the priests whose portraits hang in the vestry, but what we all have in common is a call to serve God in a particular and distinct way.

What I think is important, is to concentrate on what unites us all, lay or ordained; on our love for Our Lord and on our desire to worship and serve him in the best way possible. I hope that we can then go forward together to develop the splendid traditions we obviously have here. I hope too, that we can work together in a spirit of openness, sharing our ideas for the building up of the body of Christ in this place.

Inevitably I will not do things in quite the same way as my predecessors, but nor will I make changes for the sake of it; and certainly not before I have experienced the richness of the existing patterns of worship in the Church.

Rob and I are both really looking forward to meeting you all and getting to know you. Most of all, I do hope you will share your ideas and thoughts with me – good or bad!

Please will you pray for us both at this time of great change in our lives – as we shall pray for you?

Yours in Christ,

Jo Spray

I shall be out of the Parish between Tuesday 9^th July and Friday 12^th July on a visit to the Battlefields of the Sommes and Ypres Salient with my former school. Also between Sunday evening 21^st July and Friday 26^th July when I am acting as Chaplain to a theological college summer school. Both these dates were arranged last year before I knew we were moving to Turvey and the Archdeacon agrees that it is right for me to honour them.

Jo Spray

Olivia Wright - to be baptised on 14^th July at 1.00pm

Mabs Ascroft - whose funeral took place on 28^th June

Dorothy Monk - ordained priest 23^rd June at George Cathedral, Cape,

and for their families

The "Jubilee Celebration" raised £586 for Church funds. Many thanks to Gill Betts, Pat Cartwright and all who helped with and supported the event

Mothers' Union. Wave of Prayer - details will be announced.

Afterwards there will be Wine and Cheese in the grounds of Turvey House, by kind permission of Lady Hanbury. Tickets for the Wine and Cheese are £5, with proceeds to Friends of All Saints Turvey (FAST).

There will be a PCC meeting on 16^th July at 8 p.m. in the Manor Room.

We thought it might be helpful to let you know a little bit about us! Rob and I are both originally from Nottingham, we met when we were at school and have been married for almost thirty-six years. We both read history at college, Rob at Merton College, Oxford and I did history as my main course at the Teachers’ Training College in Nottingham. I taught in Primary Schools for almost five years until I left to look after our first son, Jonathan. Our second son, Dominic, was born three years later.

I went back to teaching very much part time when the boys were small and taught history in a large comprehensive school in Bushey, Hertfordshire. I worked there for twenty-five years and for the last twelve years I was Head of Sixth Form. I had responsibility for about two hundred 16-19 year olds which sounds awful but which I loved!

Rob worked for British Coal after leaving university and became Finance Director of the newly established British Coal Enterprise in 1984, which sought to establish new jobs in areas where the coal industry was in decline. He has worked subsequently in France and other parts of Europe in a similar capacity. He now works as a consultant, taking briefs from the World Bank and European organisations; most of his work is in Eastern Europe, particularly Ukraine.

Jonathan has been married to Judith for five years. They live in Sheffield with our wonderful new grandson, Benjamin. Judith is an anaesthetist and Jon works in the research and development of new drugs for a major pharmaceutical company. Dominic and Lucy live in Putney; they have been married for just over a year. Dom is also an anaesthetist and Lucy works for Deutsche Bank in the city.

Living in Turvey is quite a big change for us. We have lived in towns all our lives; latterly we were in Watford, in the same house for thirty-one years! We have already been made to feel very much at home here and are looking forward to getting to know people and taking part in village activities. I do hope that whether you go to Church or not, you will feel free to approach me if you think I can be of help, particularly in any times of difficulty.

Thank you for your welcome, we look forward to living and serving amongst you.

Jo Spray