29 January 2010 £1.70 the DISCOVER THE CONTEMPORARYFriend QUAKER WAY

Meeting the family Same-sex marriage update The Friend in Kenya The Lords’ work continues

Chocolate dreams Thoughts about the Bible Gone for good? For and against the Friend INDEPENDENT QUAKER JOURNALISM SINCE 1843

CONTENTS – VOL 167 NO 5 3 Government makes religious same-sex union pledge 4 Army approach to London schools recruitment queried 5 Activists call for end to Haitian debt 6 A key for the future Judy Kirby 7 Comment Alison Leonard and Grace Crookall-Greening 8-9 Letters 10-13 The Friend in Kenya 10-12 We are family In my second week in Kenya I was offered Jez Smith a hot bath by my Quaker host family. I 13 Giving thanks to God on life’s highway accepted eagerly without thinking that they didn’t have running water let alone hot Jez Smith water. When it had been prepared I was 14 Quakers and the Bible led to the bathroom and presented with this tub on a stool. Within moments the Michael Wright penny dropped and I gave thanks for the 15 ‘No’ to the Old Testament kindness of my hosts. Unfortunately, due to my height I couldn’t stand up straight in Michael Oppenheim this cubicle so I washed outside. After all, 16 q-eye: witness who would see? As I cheerily washed the first plane that I had seen in two weeks 17 Friends & Meetings flew low overhead! I waved. Jez Smith

Cover image: Jez Smith with young Friends from the Chwele Yearly Meeting youth choir at the Young Quakers Christian Association Africa Triennial in western Kenya, December 2009. Photo: Chwele Yearly Meeting youth choir.

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2 the Friend, 29 January 2010 News Government makes religious same-sex union pledge

Symon Hill reports on the House of Lords debate on Monday that led to a government commitment ‘to look at this issue further’

The government will consider Quakers ‘are encouraged by the to withdraw his amendments measures to give legal recognition commitment of the government following the government’s to religious same-sex partnership to listen and consult and give this promise ‘to look at this issue ceremonies, following campaigning measure serious consideration’. further’. Gillian Ashmore said by Quakers and other groups. The government’s new position that Friends looked forward ‘to The commitment marks was revealed during a debate on working with government to seek a a significant shift from the the Equality Bill. Waheed Alli, a gay solution’. government’s previous position. Muslim and Labour member of the However, it seems unlikely that Until this week, they had Lords, proposed amendments to the government will make much maintained that no change was allow the use of religious language progress on the issue before a needed to the law on same-sex civil and religious premises in civil general election, which must be partnerships, which does not allow partnerships. held by June at the latest. the use of religious language or ‘This is not meant to be an attack It is not clear what position religious premises. Campaigners on the tenets of religion,’ said the Conservatives would are now waiting to see if the Waheed Alli, ‘It is the Quakers, the take on the issue if elected to commitment is followed up. Liberal Judaism, the Unitarians, government. David Hunt, a Tory Speaking in the House of Lords who want this provision’. spokesperson in the Lords, said on Monday 25 January, minister He suggested that ‘the mood ‘I agree we’ve come a long way Glenys Thornton said that she was outside’ of the House was [on gay rights], but we have to ‘not unsympathetic’ to the case for supportive of the proposal. pause for a moment’. However, legal recognition of religious same- Most speakers in the debate he acknowledged that there sex partnerships. expressed support in principle. were many same-sex couples ‘We fully accept the fundamental However, some, such as the Liberal who wished to celebrate their importance of this issue to many Democrats’ equality spokesperson commitment to each other in the same-sex couples’, she added, Anthony Lester, said that the law context of their faith. promising to listen ‘particularly to needed to be more clearly drafted Later in the debate, there was those churches and organisations and nuanced in order to avoid surprise when the Lords narrowly who do wish to perform same-sex difficulties. passed another amendment to the unions’. Speaking on behalf of the Equality Bill allowing religious The issue has been of major government, Glenys Thornton organisations greater exemption concern to Quakers, particularly argued that allowing religious from anti-discrimination since Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) language in civil partnerships legislation. resolved last year to lobby for a could lead to discrimination The result was welcomed by change in the law to put same-sex against mixed-sex couples in civil socially conservative Christian marriage on an equal footing with marriages, in which no religious groups who want to be able to mixed-sex marriage. Similar calls language is allowed. In response, refuse employment to gay, lesbian, have been made by other religious Waheed Alli pointed out that bisexual and transgender people. groups, including the Lesbian and a mixed-sex couple can choose However, the vote drew criticism Gay Christian Movement, the whether to have a religious or civil from Cutting Edge, a coalition Unitarian Churches and Liberal wedding, whereas for a same-sex of Christian, Jewish, Muslim Jews. couple, only a civil partnership and secular groups opposed to Gillian Ashmore, speaking receives legal recognition. discrimination. It is as yet unclear on behalf of BYM, said that However, Waheed Alli agreed how the government will respond.

the Friend, 29 January 2010 3 News Army approach to London schools recruitment queried

Fresh concerns have been raised concentrated in the poorest a misleading picture of life in the about military recruitment in schools’. armed forces’. schools, following evidence that When questioned by the Friend, a The armed forces are already poorer students are most likely to Ministry of Defence spokesperson facing criticism for taking experience visits from the army. said, ‘The armed forces visit advantage of the recession to The news has fuelled worries schools only at the invitation of recruit people facing economic about young people joining the the school’. He added: ‘These visits hardship. Army recruiters in armed forces because of limited are to support schools’ careers London reported a twenty to employment opportunities. programmes and to offer advice on twenty-five per cent increase in Researchers from the London careers in the Armed Forces’. enquiries in January 2009 when School of Hygiene and Tropical While the report’s authors accept compared with the same period in Medicine found that forty per cent that ‘an army visit is contingent on the previous year. of London’s schools received army the school’s consent’, they say that The government is also visits between September 2008 ‘in practice it is more usual for the struggling to defend the and April 2009. However, fifty-one army to initiate the relationship’. recruitment of sixteen- and per cent of schools in the most David Gee urged teachers and seventeen-year-olds. The UK is disadvantaged fifth were visited, other school staff to reconsider the only European Union country compared with only twenty-nine decisions to invite the armed forces to employ soldiers aged under per cent of the middle fifth. into their schools. eighteen, a policy recently criticised ‘Letting army recruiters into He told the Friend, ‘It’s by Parliament’s Joint Committee schools may jeopardise young important that teachers think on Human Rights. people’s rights and welfare,’ said about whether they want to Symon Hill Quaker researcher David Gee, allow military recruiters into who co-authored the report, schools, given that these are slick A shorter version of this article ‘particularly as these visits are advertising campaigns that present appeared on the website last week. Christian groups aim to tackle poverty and homelessness Insisting that ‘there is enough for all’, three Christian already share hospitality, food, transport and lifestyles. organisations have challenged prevailing economic They include schemes such as ‘Nightstop’, which ideas by encouraging people to share, exchange and re- provides emergency accommodation in hosts’ own use, in order to combat the hardships of the economic homes, alongside ethical banking projects, food co- downturn. operatives and furniture recycling. Their website The call comes ahead of Poverty and Homelessness (www.actionweek.org.uk) includes a map of all the Action Week, due to begin on Saturday 30 January. events being planned in churches and communities ‘We have had enough of an economic system built across the UK. on greed and selfishness. There is another way’, it says The campaigners describe their approach as an in the Action Week manifesto. alternative to the system represented by bankers who The three groups – Church Action on Poverty, ‘count their bonuses in hundreds of thousands’. Housing Justice and Scottish Churches’ Housing ‘The gap between rich and poor is growing’, said Action – have launched a range of resources to provide Liam Purcell of Church Action on Poverty, ‘But ‘ideas for individuals and communities to respond to everyone can help to close it by operating outside the the recession by living more simply and sharing what cash economy – through the basics of helping each we have’. other, sharing our insights and our skills, and showing They have published a booklet, 12 Baskets, which that there are other ways of living our life.’ contains examples of practical ways in which people

4 the Friend, 29 January 2010 [email protected] Activists call for end to Haitian debt Campaigners across the world are an earthquake of this magnitude that aid given to Haiti could be calling for the total cancellation would cause devastation anywhere, undermined by the IMF adding to of all Haiti’s debts following the the trauma for Haitians has the country’s debts. earthquake that has killed up to been made much worse by The IMF loans come with 200,000 people in the country. their country’s poverty, weak conditions. They include raising Christian Aid has launched infrastructure and inadequate prices for electricity, refusing a petition to the chancellor of building conditions. pay rises for any public sector the exchequer, Alistair Darling, It was only last year that around employees except those making urging him to push for full debt two-thirds of Haiti’s debt was the minimum wage and keeping cancellation. They tell him that the cancelled, amounting to $1.2 inflation as low as possible. In UK can ‘lead the world by giving billion. However, the country still 1995, the IMF forced Haiti to slash Haiti a fighting chance for the owes debts of $890 million, mostly its rice tariff, resulting in increased future’. to the IMF. imports from the USA, which has However, the International ‘Haiti’s dire poverty has been been blamed for poverty amongst Monetary Fund (IMF) is under built on centuries of injustice Haitian rice farmers. fire for extending further loans to perpetrated against the country by Meanwhile, Quakers are Haiti. The Jubilee Debt Campaign the rich world’, said JDC’s director, continuing to contribute to (JDC) described the IMF’s decision Nick Dearden, ‘It is time for our international relief efforts in Haiti. as ‘completely inappropriate’, saying part of the world to pay its debt to Members of Evangelical Friends that Haiti needs grants, not loans. Haiti. That means full cancellation Church in Canton, Ohio have They added that IMF and similar of all of Haiti’s debts and large travelled to Haiti to support local institutions ‘bore a good degree of grant funding.’ Friends. They report that they responsibility for the poor state of Nick Dearden told the Friend are managing to distribute safe Haiti’s economy today’. that Friends and others could drinking water to people in the A number of international make a difference by emailing the west of the country. observers have noted that, while chancellor to express their alarm Symon Hill Brighton Friends to host Quaker tapestry in roadshow Brighton Friends are gearing up The Brighton Tapestry ‘We are excited about the for a major project, as the Quaker Committee says that Friends in prospect of welcoming so many Tapestry holds its first roadshow the city have been drawn together visitors to our Meeting house’, said visit to a Quaker Meeting house. by their work on the event. They a committee spokesperson. ‘Our The tapestry, which is housed in have set up a cafe, to be open six pool of helpers includes Friends Kendal, usually visits a cathedral days each week. In addition, they from several Local Meetings as well when it goes on tour each will create a new panel for the as visiting stewards from all over February, allowing it to be seen tapestry, highlighting activities with the UK.’ by over 10,000 visitors. Brighton which Brighton Meeting has been Quakers say that it is ‘very exciting associated, such as adult education, The exhibition will run from 30 and not a little daunting’ to hold peace, sustainability and links with January to 27 February, open from such a large-scale exhibition on the marginalised people of the 10.00am to 4.30pm, Monday to their premises. Jordan Valley. Saturday; admission free.

the Friend, 29 January 2010 5 Opinion A key for the future

A chocolate past could lead to a sweet future for Friends says Judy Kirby

How do you cover a story like ‘By the 1870s’, he writes, ‘Oxford view this. There is an interesting Cadbury’s takeover if you are a and Cambridge universities began word, zeitgeist, which simply Quaker newspaper? accepting Quakers, opening up means ‘spirit of the age’. For most Difficult. We are treading on new professions and opportunities’. of my adult life, the zeitgeist hallowed ground here, speaking How do you keep them down at has been money. The desire for of legendary Quaker venture, the factory once they have tasted accumulation of it has gradually of which British Friends are academia? grown, spreading into all aspects understandably proud. In Peter Jackson did his research of society until its acquisition has some dimension of the Quaker well, consulting Helen Rowlands become our main preoccupation, consciousness, I am sure there is on how the strong Quaker business whether by lottery player or outrage. How can this happen? But ethos developed in the wake shareholder. To argue against such in another, pragmatism prevails. of exclusion from professional a strong zeitgeist invites ridicule. Cadbury has been a multinational life. He charts all the steps taken You are just fighting the spirit of company for some time now, and towards the Quaker domination the age. the company chairman Roger Carr of confectionery manufacture But Friends, it is important that is quoted as saying: ‘the reality is in Britain. And it certainly did we do resist, because that is what we are part of a global business. dominate the taste buds of Britons will stimulate the next spirit of the Although Cadbury roots are deeply – see too the article by author age into being – one so different buried in Britain, the development Andrew Martin, writing last week as to be unrecognisable to us of the company has been all over in the Guardian, who spoke of now. It may not arrive in time for the world.’ And without many of his York boyhood imbued with some of us and there may be more the original Quaker credentials. the flavour of Quaker chocolate. shocks in store, but come it will The ‘struggle’ that has been Grandfather and auntie worked some time in the natural course waging for months as the Kraft for Rowntrees, ensuring plenty of of evolutionary events. Values will company staged its predatory bid treats coming Andrew’s way. He change, from necessity as much was of course a struggle to get recalled the northern Willie Wonka as desire, and when they do, I’d them to pay more money, not to – George Harris – who invented like to feel that the pioneering and repel them, a reality slow to click the KitKat bar, staple diet of my enterprising Quaker spirit will have into place for those Friends hoping own reporting days in the 1960s brought on a whole new breed the bid would go away. and 1970s. of Cadburys, Rowntrees and Frys Among the many articles and So we all loved Quaker sweets, providing the materials for a post- blogs that have appeared since the and the ethical and compassionate globalised, sustainable economy. news, a long piece by Peter Jackson business practices that went along If we want to be part of the story on the BBC news website has a with them, and for some of us we had better start working on the fact buried towards the end that, today there will be bitterness in next chapter now. for me, contains the key to today’s their passing. reality. But there may be another way to Judy is editor of the Friend.

6 the Friend, 29 January 2010 Comment Lessons from the Cadbury saga

Cadbury’s capitulation to Kraft Bournville. And this is only one The other is that this battle has struck a body-blow at Quaker more example in the ghastly list of of Kraft for Cadbury has values. Any of us who saw or took sell-offs of livelihoods, traditions, brought Quaker values into the part in the Leaveners’ production human and planetary resources, all public arena: values of honesty, of George and the Chocolate under a government which, in Tony community, and the vital Factory; those of us who have Blair’s words, is ‘constantly seeking connection between the macro- watched Cadbury’s laborious and to improve life for the people of economics of wheeler-dealering painstaking moves towards Fair our country’. with the micro-economics of Trade; those Woodbrooke course- What can be salvaged from this ordinary people’s everyday life and goers who sit quietly at evening disaster? Two things, maybe – one daily bread. We must capitalise on epilogue in the Cadbury room distant, one nearer home. that. Seize it, keep it alive in the – all of us, surely, must go into The first is Barack Obama’s minds of the public. Write to our mourning at this turn of events. decision to take on the banks and MPs, write to the papers; stand The interests of money- separate proper, genuine banking by the people of Bournville and dealers have been placed above from its casino operations. Let the Cadbury workforce; and put the interests of working people, us pressurise our government, our strength behind Fair Trade families and communities. The the present one and whatever and against the selling of people’s pressures of international casino government emerges after the livelihoods for distant profit. finance have crushed ideals of election, to listen to the voice of localism and common purpose. Vince Cable and follow Barack Alison Leonard The shadow of dread hangs over Obama’s lead. Chester Meeting A bitter end?

We hear many sentiments of democracy. mattered? Not much. The dismay and regret that Cadbury Ernest Bader, a Friend and chairman knew that by borrowing has been gobbled up by Kraft. founder of the Scott Bader £7 billion to buy Cadbury for £12 Unfortunately very little is said Commonwealth, approached billion, Kraft would have to cut or written about the choice of Cadbury and other Quaker costs and he admits that job losses a capitalist company structure industrialists fifty years ago, asking are ‘inevitable’. He refers to the which made this possible, even them to rethink the meaning of the takeover as a ‘bittersweet moment’. inevitable, where power is ceded to company in the light of conscience, For the working people it is just shareholders. urging them to provide a bitter. That bitterness will not be The moral stature and practice stewardship structure for the future lessened by chief executive Todd of the early days of the Cadbury of the people whose livelihoods Stitzer’s £12 million gained from company were admirable, if depended on their companies. the deal or the negotiations by the paternalistic. It didn’t extend Ernest Bader had been influenced city advisors that cost £250 million to protecting the future of the by John Spedan Lewis who (according to the Guardian). people who worked there by converted his own private company What a pity Cadbury has sold converting to one of the models of into democratic partnership, which out morally as well as financially. It democratic stewardship. Even after gained the high reputation it has might have been an ethical beacon Cadbury floated and ceased to be today for good service and excellent for today, not just yesterday. a private company, some capital internal relationships. resources could have been used to Has Cadbury shown their Grace Crookall-Greening develop experiments in economic economic thinking as if people Bedford Meeting

the Friend, 29 January 2010 7 Letters All views expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the Friend

God and Haiti show that there may be perfectly moral value. They just are. See the David Boulton is right, of course. rational, and for many Friends world as a deeply interconnected Earthquakes are natural events, more attractive, alternatives to mystery and it all changes. It is well known to us and providing, David’s favoured solution. Indeed from there that our values and after long years, useful resources. this is only one of a number of testimonies stem, and also our The human disaster now being developments in theo-scientific clumsy conceptualisations of God endured in Haiti is the result of thinking in recent years which – and from there that the people of the history of the island that has address the same issue. Formidable Haiti can have hope. led to the poverty and unsuitable as they are, the difficulties Jan Arriens development of the area. He is presented by theodicy do not 17 Castle Street, Bishop’s Castle, right also in his conclusion that require us to replace our experience Shropshire SY9 5BU God is in every part of the help of the Real Presence in prayer and [email protected] that we can give and is relying on worship with the notion of a fictive us. God whose reality is restricted to The Bible Audrey Urry what Robert Barclay described as I was interested to read the Bridport Meeting ‘the natural mind and will of man.’. letter (22 January) asking for Derek Guiton information about the Bible classes David Boulton proposes a Brighouse and West Yorkshire held at the Bournville Works in humanist solution to the problem Area Meeting the late nineteenth century. I of evil (‘theodicy’): erase God [email protected] cannot answer any of the questions from the picture and the question but the information given is becomes irrelevant. He thereby I go almost all the way with David quite consistent with something casts aside the entire history of Boulton but am left wondering that I was told when working in Christian thought on this subject, when he portrays God as ‘a human Birmingham some years back. from Augustine and Irenaeus to concept rather than a superhuman Apparently Richard Cadbury, contemporary thinkers like John entity’. Is that the right antithesis? the brother of George, had offered Hick, Alasdair MacIntyre and, not We may, as David says, see God to pay for a Bible to be given to least, our own George Ellis (co- as Spirit, as expressed in qualities every schoolchild in Birmingham. author with Stephen Hawking of such as compassion and loving The Roman Catholic Church The Large Scale Structure of Space kindness, but this does not opposed this action, presumably on Time and with Nancey Murphy necessarily make this undogmatic, the grounds that it is for the priest, of On the Moral Nature of the indeterminate understanding of not the layman, to read and explain Universe). the divine a human construct; the word of God. Consequently, A Quaker, scientist and peace pushing off against the ‘Old Man the Bibles did not go to every child activist, Ellis is drawn to the idea of in the Sky’ does not necessarily as Richard had hoped. No doubt ‘kenosis’. Fundamental to kenosis mean that mercy, pity, peace this fuelled his dislike of Roman is God’s self-giving vulnerability and love become ‘the God we Catholic attitudes, and when – infinite power restrained ‘in bring to these situations’. That involved with financing various complete subordination to love’. is to impose humanism on our housing schemes Richard asked Ellis uses this idea to provide a admittedly vague but also deeply that clauses should be inserted so model of divine action as self- felt experience of the divine. as to exclude Roman Catholics limiting, non-authoritarian, non- To me, such anthropocentrism from being given tenancies, a coercive and directed towards the has a touch of arrogance about restriction that continued well in to freedom and integrity of creatures it, suggesting that we know it all. the twentieth century. in a universe finely tuned to But we don’t. The divine is not Christopher Coffin produce intelligent life. Disorder wishful thinking but something Hampshire and Islands AM in nature (such as earthquake) many of us know from experience. is seen as not willed by God but It is not something we can gainsay. I think that the key word in John as inherent to material being Worship is much more than just an Henry Newman’s reason for and a by-product of the regular affirmation of these values. walking in the snow to Bournville laws of physics, which make For if we reduce everything Village to ‘defend the Catholic an ‘intelligence-and freedom- to human values, what are those workforce from imposed Bible producing’ universe possible. values based on? If they are viewed studies’, is ‘imposed’. Many Whether or not we accept this just as human concepts, I do not passages in both the Old and New view of divine action, it does see that they carry any intrinsic Testament are capable of more

8 the Friend, 29 January 2010 [email protected]

than one meaning. Newman would pacifism, hoarding and usury. A inviting me to a conference (which have considered it important that pocket Quaker book of biblical I could not reach) on the post- Roman Catholics should study and other quotes would be very traumatic ills of people suffering the Bible under the guidance of a useful in bringing Friends back to from the effects of war. Why was Roman Catholic priest. their roots and as a supplement to it sent to me? Then I realised my I think it very sad that people Advices and Queries. Croatia-link had not forgotten me! today (including many Quakers) Ronald Watts Dennis H Mitchell are less well acquainted with the Abergavenny Meeting Pontefract Meeting Bible than they were in my pre- See pages 14-15. second world war youth. However, Sexual abuse survivors I would be strongly opposed Though snow had prevented group for men? to study of the Bible under, Friends of her Meeting reaching Bearing in mind we are an for instance, the guidance of a their place of worship, Judy Kirby organisation with a testament to Fundamentalist Evangelical, being has explained how she arranged equality should we question the imposed on anyone. for Friends to stay at home and validity of a sub-group entitled Incidentally John Henry worship at the usual time, thus Quaker women survivors of sexual Newman would have considered making a ‘distance Meeting’. In abuse? himself always to have been ‘a 2007 Friends separated by distance Statistically there must be a Catholic’. The Church of England over Europe itself tried a similar considerable number of male claims to be part of the Catholic approach. Caroline Wilson of Quakers who have been subjected (or universal) Church of Christ, Barcelona placed an announcement to childhood abuse. Currently as the Anglican Book of Common in the Friend early in the year we are left out in the cold while Prayer affirms in many places. inviting Friends to take part in a our female counterparts have the Ernest Hall Virtual Meeting by sending her benefit of a support group. Is this 88 Dudley Road, Clacton-on-Sea their email address. The list of acceptable for Quakers or am I CO15 3DJ all those taking part was made allowing my penchant for pedantry available. 7pm to 8pm (Greenwich to take over my thought processes? David Jeffery’s account (13 Mean Time) on the first Sunday in David Barry November) of the challenge the month was the time chosen for Bexhill-on-Sea Meeting faced by his Meeting over an Friends to adopt worship mode at attender is a welcome reminder home. Stickers for peace that British Quakers are in a Soon, Caroline herself and others I am trying to get hold of ‘Quakers small minority in relation to the felt that a more definite approach for Peace’ and ‘Quakers oppose community of Friends around the was needful and suggestions came all Wars’ window stickers. Alas, world. Hopefully Friends will be forward. In the event this took no Friends House tells me it doesn’t strengthened by the challenges to shape and it would seem that the produce these any more. seek insights from the history of venture had faded out by the end I wonder if there are any Friends our founders. of 2007. who may be able to assist me in British Friends who have However, all this provided a finding these window stickers. interacted with Friends in the spin-off that I have valued. I chose Gerard Bane Americas and Africa will have people living in places with which 59 Chapel Road, Ramsgate noticed that we are seen as having I had a connection and that would CT11 0BS abandoned what they see as establish a talking point. Some ‘Bible-based’ Quakerism. Some were Shetland, Finland, Meetings do not always place a Kazakstan and Croatia. The Friend welcomes your views. Please keep Bible on the table during worship Replies were detailed, letters short and include your full postal and those that do rarely refer to interesting and deeply address, even when sending emails. Please it. What might help would be a moving. Solitude specify whether you wish for your postal or email address or Meeting name to be used with greater use of pocket Bibles that and even danger your name, otherwise we will print your post can be referred to before ministry. had sharpened their address or email address. Letters are published Having experimented with pocket perceptions of what at the editor’s discretion and may be edited. Bibles in Africa and here I find that the Quaker way ought Write to: the Friend, 173 Euston Road, London the indices often fail to provide to mean in action. NW1 2BJ or email [email protected] a quote that I am looking for. A while later I Remember if you are online that you can also Recent examples are thrift, charity, received a letter comment on all articles at www.thefriend.org

the Friend, 29 January 2010 9 Kenya We are family Jez Smith visited Kenya in December. He shares the inspiration for going and what he found when he got there

I have stories to tell. About Friends years after it occurred, but more our divisions, I reach out to you from another part of the world, about that later. won’t you reach out to me? With all their lives and about how we The whole expedition began of our voices and all of our visions interact. I want to write of how some six months earlier when Friends we could make such sweet we’re all part of one big family, I was in Woodbrooke Quaker harmony.’ I value my connection to united by our use of the name Study Centre for a meeting. I had Quakers around Britain and now ‘Friends’. About how we in the travelled there the night before I should develop the international minority are connected to people I was due to be there, which was links. in the majority world through our unusual for me as I always feel like So it came to be, that I was in religion and about how we need to I’m rushing from place to place. Kenya thanks to the Europe and build bridges. And there I met Bainito Wamalwa, Middle East Young Friends group, This isn’t a sudden revelation co-clerk of the local organising which had been invited to send story. Revelation is a slow ongoing committee of the 2012 world representatives to Young Quaker process. There are occasional rays conference of Friends. Bainito had Christian Association. YQCA is a of new Light, but for the cliché that been a part of the World Gathering bit like EMEYF but isn’t formally this is, the Quaker journey goes on. of Young Friends at Lancaster in attached to any overarching body. For me, there won’t be a ‘Quaker 2005 and so knew Woodbrooke And whereas EMEYF meets twice Meeting is like coming home’ well. But up until then we hadn’t each year, YQCA meets once every moment. Instead, the journey is it. met. three years, but with a leadership I hadn’t intended to travel In the weeks before the world training retreat in between. to Kenya. In fact I hadn’t even gathering I had coincidentally The theme of YQCA’s triennial intended to fly any more. That been at Woodbrooke as part of my was ‘divine perception’, based was one journey that I hadn’t preparation to be a UK-placement on the story in 1 Samuel of God intended to be a part of. And yet, peaceworker for Quaker Peace & guiding Samuel to make a choice off I went to Kenya, having flown Social Witness. I had met many of the new king of Israel. For from Heathrow on the day that so of the young Friends who were man does not see as God sees. It many of my friends were taking passing through on their way north was about discernment said one part in the pre-Copenhagen Wave from Birmingham but that had member of my Bible study group demonstration in London. Had I been the extent of my involvement. as we tackled the relevant verses sold out? Bainito and I discussed ideas together before I left London. I had long wondered about how about how Quakers from around An hour or so after arriving the Friend could develop regular the world could share their faith. in Nairobi I introduced myself content from Friends around There were some members of to the congregation at Friends the world. But no specific ideas the Quakers and Business group Centre Ofafa. Some time ago I had formed. We had hoped that chatting late around the tables had heard that if you’re among our then news reporter, Oliver too, networking and sharing ideas. Kenyan Friends and you say ‘God Robertson, would go to Kenya in Some of them came over and is good’, you always get the reply, 2008, but the disruption caused shared ideas that fed into what ‘all the time’. You then reply ‘all the by the post-election violence early Bainito and I were talking about. time’ and your audience replies in that year put paid to any plans A couple of months later, those with ‘God is good’. Finally I was for him to go. As it was, the post- of us who were at Yearly Meeting in Kenya so I called out ‘God is election violence had a significant Gathering finished the event by good’. ‘Amen’ came the reply of impact on my trip, almost two singing ‘Building bridges between 250 voices in unison. It was not an

10 the Friend, 29 January 2010 auspicious start. I explained to my I wanted to meet Friends from mundane and the minor, were fellow Friends that I was in Kenya East Africa Yearly Meeting North, about overcoming poverty, dealing as a Europe and Middle East Young known simply as ‘North’ locally to with HIV and AIDS, climate Friends representative to attend distinguish it from the similarly change and most importantly who We are family the Young Quakers Christian named East Africa Yearly Meeting. we were and what our Quaker Association Africa Triennial and I North has a particular place in experience was like. would also be doing some work to British Quakers’ recent collective I had left Britain as the record the testimonies of Kenyan memory, as the Yearly Meeting Copenhagen summit was and other African Friends for the that sends out vile epistles (2006 about to start. In Kenya the magazine I work for, the Friend. and 2007) proclaiming against negotiations were played out on ‘Praise be to God’, I concluded. gay people so strongly that Britain the international pages of the ‘Amen’, they replied. Yearly Meeting changed its practice newspapers. This was not an event Before I went to Kenya, whenever and no longer publishes all at which ordinary Kenyans had I told anyone that I was going, the epistles received from other Yearly any role to play. And even their stock response seemed to be that I Meetings. government was considered to would need to know all about the Would the Friends from North be mostly a bystander, likely to Britain Yearly Meeting decision on be openly and virulently anti-gay? be screwed by whatever deal was same-sex marriage. I would need No. Not least because many of arranged. For all their huff and

From the left: Young Friends dancing during a session at YQCA; young people from Chwele Yearly Meeting youth choir at YQCA; and the 1,200 young people at East Africa Yearly Meeting North’s youth conference gathered outside as they couldn’t all fit in their hall. Photos: Jez Smith.

to know the theological points them have never knowingly met an puff, the strongest nations in the and to comprehend and be able to out gay person. This may be part talks were looking out for their repeat everything about where we of the problem, but I soon realised own interests. So much for ‘united British Friends were at and how that going on to North Friends nations’. we had got there. As it was, no one about Britain’s position on same- On the television that blared asked me about the Britain Yearly sex marriage was not going to help non-stop in the dining room of Meeting decision at all. The only our relationships. It just wasn’t in the YQCA conference (a television time that I heard it discussed was context. We need a dialogue before is seen as a status symbol of sorts) when my fellow representative we can start sharing. I don’t have we saw on the news the dreadful Hetty Swancott, from Britain Yearly any doubts that some Friends have droughts of Turkana, northern Meeting, brought up the issue been and will be treated very badly Kenya. Later, on my return, I would at YQCA and had an engaging because of their sexuality. I just learn of the floods that devastated and long discussion about same- don’t think that condemnation the region. After no water for so sex issues with some Kenyan of all Friends on its own will help long, there was too much. The Friends who were eager to learn us bring about the broken world irregularity of the rains has had a and, perhaps most importantly, transformed. We need to start tremendous effect and there have understand. conversations and we need not been fears that this year Kenya may So I came to Kenya with the only to listen but to show that we run out of national food stocks. hope of hearing Kenyan Friends are listening. There are currently under stories, their testimonies and The main issues that Friends 15,000 members of the Religious about their lives. In particular, wished to discuss, beyond the Society of Friends in Britain today,

the Friend, 29 January 2010 11 Kenya

compared with approximately Since then the Church has taken 170,000 in the US and over part in Alternatives to Violence 150,000 in Africa. As methods of taster sessions, has held meetings gathering statistics like these vary, where youths involved in the more recent reports suggest that violence and the victims can get there could be as many as 200,000 down and discuss their experiences, or 300,000 Quakers in Kenya alone. and has done its best to work for a And most of them are not like us. more peaceful future. But everyone I first learned about Quakers in Kenya knows that the tension is from other countries when I was still there, albeit in the background a participant on the Quaker UN for now, that the violence could Summer School in Geneva in Quakers at Eldoret Friends Church. return and that there are still many 2001, less than a year after I first Photo: Jez Smith. disaffected youth. started going regularly to Quaker During my trip to Kenya I valued Meetings. Kaptama Friends’plans for the the opportunity to worship with One aspect of the YQCA future. Friends from other backgrounds. conference was a deliberate During my meetings with I found the experience of singing attempt from the organisers to Kenyan Friends Bainito expressly praises to God in worship at YQCA bring together participants from told our hosts where ever we went in western Kenya bringing out across the Quaker spectrum so that I was there just as a guest and similar feelings in me as when I that, especially through informal visitor and that I was not there to find myself in a settled Meeting learning opportunities, we could donate money. It must have been for Worship back home, on a find out about all that we have in hard for them though, seeing this cold winter’s night in Peckham. common, as well as understanding seemingly rich person from the I appreciated it so much that what our differences are. minority world waltzing briefly I’ve started looking out for So what I can I say? I can try to into their community and leaving opportunities to sing with Quakers speak of what experience we have again just a couple of hours later. more often. in common, within the limits of It was hard too not to commit to The fellowship was important language. There is something of helping them out, thinking about too. Simply spending time with God in everyone and we try to how just a few hundred pounds Friends, sometimes not talking, but celebrate and appreciate it. We use might make a credible difference being comfortable in each other’s the teachings of Jesus too. to the materials in their schools or presence even when we’ve just After YQCA was over I headed the medicines they can prescribe in met is a great feeling. We talked off to Eldoret, a large town in Rift their health centre. a lot too, for the record to share Valley Province, which was to be After Kaptama we spent a with others, also conversations my home for the next few days. morning at Eldoret Friends Church over dinner, in between meetings, With a population of over 200,000, with some of the community there. on the road, in churches and in Eldoret is the fifth largest town in The violence that spread across houses. My trip to Kenya was Kenya. I stayed with Bainito and his Kenya like wildfire at the end of definitely worth it. family. Phori, a member of Central 2007 and in early 2008 affected that The longer I stayed in Kenya, and Southern Africa Yearly Meeting town. The Friends who gathered the more I felt that we can all from Lesotho, was also with us. with us came to tell their stories call ourselves Friends and despite Phori is an African representative and give testimony to the grace of our differences, that’s okay. And, on the Friends World Committee God. At the height of the violence, whether in our Local Meetings for Consultation youth board. seventeen families with sixty-eight or in international visits, I was On Monday 14 December we members were sheltering at the reminded that when we Friends set out to Kaptama. We met with church. The situation was difficult. spend more time with each other Friends there and had fellowship But a small amount of cash was we can be better prepared to time together in their church, with raised and sent from a Meeting in answer that of God in ourselves a reading from the Bible, prayers Britain. The clerk went among the and each other. and time to introduce ourselves to families finding out how he could See jezsmith.wordpress.com to read each other. Then we went visiting try and meet their need. Each Jez’s blogposts from Kenya. the secondary school and 1,900- responded, was helped and slowly pupil primary school, as well as the but surely this Quaker community Our coverage of Friends in Kenya health centre. We learned about got its members back on their feet. continues next week.

12 the Friend, 29 January 2010 Giving thanks to God on life’s highway Jez Smith recounts a journey in Kenya that didn’t go according to plan We set out to Kaptama, via Eldoret. market. We gave him a lift and we then decided not to worry anyone. Our car wasn’t working so we chatted, with Bainito, Phori and I Adding to our concern was that the took a matatu (a shared taxi) to in the front seats and Daniel in the sliding door no longer seemed to Eldoret, then picked up a car from solitary seat in the rear. shut and there was a growing gap a friend. This car was a minibus, It was already getting dark when between the door and the vehicle. like a matatu, or had been once. we reached the Uganda road. This Our bags were lying loose on the Now it had just four seats – three highway goes from Mombasa on floor of the bus, bouncing around in the front and one by the back the coast to Nairobi, then up to as we travelled over bumps. of the sliding side door. The roads Eldoret and west into Uganda. I’m not sure who started the to Kaptama from Eldoret were Thundering along it are all sorts singing and the praising God but bumpy, to say the least. But we got of vehicles, particularly buses and soon our vehicle was filled with to see more of rural Kenya, from trucks going in each direction from joyous song. We gave thanks to men sitting in the shade under as far west as DRC. The road is the Lord that we at least had a car, trees at crossroads, to children messed up too, in places the tarmac that meant that we could go faster washing clothes and splashing has become rutted from the heavy than people walking. Whenever we about in the river. At some point trucks passing up and down it. passed a broken down car we gave during our journey, a speed There are also potholes, some so thanks that we were still going. limiter in the vehicle got displaced large that vehicles hit the verge or We sang variations of a song I had and every so often when Bainito the other side of the road to avoid learned at YQCA: accelerated the limiter (with its them. I was thinking that this could ‘I am praising the Living God rather irritating beep) would be some kind of metaphor for my I am praising the Living God kick in, briefly cutting out the Quaker journey when suddenly we I am praising the Living God engine and stop us from exceeding hit something and the speed limiter Hallelujah Living God’. 80km/h. Except that we were being cut in again. And then the speed We gave thanks for all sorts of prevented from going over much limiter wasn’t going off at random situations, mostly along the lines lower speeds. any more. It was all the time. So of ‘I am driving for the Living God’. Although it was still light when we were stuck travelling up the Song, I realised, had become a key we left Kaptama we had a long Uganda road at six or seven miles part of my worshipping God. journey ahead of us and so we took an hour in the dark with trucks Eventually the speed limiter off down the hill, whizzing down and buses thundering by whose got tired or God had had enough to the main road and back towards drivers might not have stopped for and we were able to pick up speed home. Little did we know it then, who knows how long. again. When we arrived home that but this was to be one of the epic Bainito put the hazard lights night, several hours after we had journeys of my life. It started well, on and we continued on our intended, we were all mightily with beautiful vistas, and later way. I have never known a more relieved. Before we ate, we gave we saw another Friend, Daniel, excruciating journey in all my life. I thanks once more to God for our walking the couple of hours that it started texting some friends to ask safe arrival and for the opportunity would take him to get home from them to hold us in the Light, but to praise him along the way.

the Friend, 29 January 2010 13 Creeds Quakers and the Bible

Michael Wright puts the case for Friends engaging more with the Bible, while on the facing page Michael Oppenheim blames the Old Testament for creating injustice in the Middle East

The Bible seems to be much Our Quaker approach is both current biblical scholarship, and neglected in British Quakerism intellectually and spiritually gives us a picture of the wide these days. It is largely a foreign liberating for many people. It will variety of ways in which the Bible rather than a familiar book to be very sad if we are so unfamiliar has been used and understood. many of us. We mostly seem to with the biblical material that we She begins with looking at how hear of it from ‘Bible believing are unable to offer this positive the different threads of material Christians’ who take it at face approach to scripture to those who were woven together to provide value, as literally the word of God. are searching for just such a way of the biblical material we now Many of us Quakers are understanding and drawing on the have. That gives us insights into uncomfortable at the prospect Bible. understanding the books, making of discussions with such eager The Bible is our bridge between some discernment about their beavers. They have a ready the Quaker way and that of other historical value, but, much more familiarity with chapter and verse, Christian traditions. Without it significantly, the religious value of and a clear black and white view of we have no common language to their various writings. how the material is to be treated, share our concept of the Christian The great Hebrew prophets which puts us at a disadvantage. way with them, or indeed with the like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos and Unfortunately we rarely discuss majority of Quakers world-wide Hosea spoke truth to power during the Bible among ourselves either. who are focused on the Bible. periods when the wealthy few We also tend not to discuss the We will be in danger of speaking abused and impoverished the poor Bible with those who are drifting about our religious tradition and focused on lavish religious away from the practice of the almost entirely in sociological or ceremonies entirely divorced from Christian way because they can no secular language, and will find it the ethical ideals of the Moses longer accept a biblical literalism. difficult to place our vision of the tradition. Quakers draw many of Sadly most do not realise there is Quaker way within the traditions our ethical values from the Hebrew any sensible alternative between of the three Peoples of the Book prophets, as well as from Jesus’ that and the Dawkins view. – Judaism, Christianity and Islam. teaching. Advices and Queries 5 and 7, and Karen Armstrong in The Bible Karen Armstrong illustrates so Quaker Faith and Practice 27.27- – the biography shows how the well the Quaker position of looking 34, point us to a very different, scriptures have been expounded not to the letter but to the spirit and very positive approach to the down the centuries by Jewish and that inspired the writings. Her Hebrew and Christian scriptures. Christian teachers. She explains book empowers those of us who

14 the Friend, 29 January 2010 may feel a little uncertain of our effort, and we will experience visionary behind the Church’s ground in dealing creatively with difficulties on our journey to a conservative icon. Paul is often a scriptural material. better place. controversial figure, sometimes There are other ways of drawing Our understanding of much regarded as homophobic and meaning from the great themes in the Hebrew and Christian misogynistic. These two scholars of the Hebrew scriptures, one of scriptures has been enhanced in show that the books commonly which Marcus Borg in his book recent years by the knowledge acknowledged to have been written Meeting Jesus again for the first time and insights gained from the by Paul reveal an engaging man draws out: the macro-narrative. archaeological findings in Israel, whose approach is very faithful to The Exodus is one such example. as well as the texts found in that of Jesus in the gospels. Other As Borg puts it, ‘it is a story of Jordan (Dead Sea Scrolls) and books that carry Paul’s name, but bondage, liberation, a journey, Egypt in the 1940s. There has were written by other people, are and a destination’. We might add been much to learn too from either conservative or reactionary, ‘inspiration’ somewhere in there anthropology, sociology, history which distort and contradict Paul. too. Many people have experienced of the Roman empire and the These three very readable books such stages in the story of their Middle East generally, as well as are available to help us to value the own lives. The bondage may fresh perspectives from scholars of Bible afresh in the light of modern have been a loveless or stifling Judaism. knowledge, and apply the wisdom relationship, a rigid mind-set, Marcus Borg and John Dominic of the approach to the scriptures a job that didn’t satisfy, or an Crossan offer us a fresh look at the found in Quaker Faith and Practice. environment that didn’t feel right. life and teaching of Paul in The Michael is a member of Teesdale and To break out requires courage, First Paul – reclaiming the radical Cleveland Area Meeting. ‘No’ to the Old Testament A literal reading of the Old Testament is seriously in that their land is appropriated by settlers, to be damaging the Palestinian people. For it is written rather rough. But this is nothing compared to what within the Old Testament, clearly and repeatedly, that happened when the Children of Israel returned to God has given the whole of Palestine – and more their Promised Land forty years after their deliverance – to Abraham’s seed. Here is the text of the covenant from slavery in Egypt! Joshua 1:4 defines the extent made with Abraham (Genesis 15:18): ‘Unto thy seed of this territory, eretz yisrael in Hebrew. But eretz have I given this land…’ Other pertinent references in yisrael is already occupied by Canaanites, Hittites, Genesis include 12:7 and 17:8. Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. The religious settlers in Israel, accordingly, believe Ethnic cleansing of a very thorough nature ensues, that they are exercising their full rights, if not an summarised in Joshua 10:40: ‘So Joshua smote all the obligation, in settling within Palestine. country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, You and I might say that the reference to Abraham’s and of the springs, and all their kings; he left none seed should include Ishmael, the offspring of remaining but utterly destroyed all that breathe as the Hagar, Abraham’s second wife. But that is not the Lord God of Israel commanded’. Deuteronomy 20:16- interpretation accepted by the settlers. For in Genesis 17 clearly decrees that this is what has to be done! 18, whereas Ishmael is to be made a great nation, I regard the Old Testament as a rather distasteful it is only with Isaac that God’s covenant is to be work. And unlikely to have been written by God, or established. From the settlers’ viewpoint, accordingly, through His guidance. establishing settlements beyond the 1967 border is an Michael Oppenheim execution of God’s will. Michael is an ethnically Jewish attender at Lancaster We might regard the treatment of the Palestinians, Meeting.

the Friend, 29 January 2010 15 Eyewitness [email protected]

End of two legends What a trooper! Eye was sad to see the demise of the American Our Friend Annetta Hoffnung may be in her mid- photographer Dennis Stock at the age of eighties but she’s still travelling around the country eighty-one. Stock took pictures of film presenting her illustrated talk ‘The Humour of stars and jazz musicians but the shots Eye Hoffnung’, on the life and work of the cartoonist and loved were the ones he took of James Dean, humorist Gerard Hoffnung, when and where invited. legendary mixed-up young man whose career She’s appearing in central London on Sunday (31 he followed pictorially. Fifty years after Dean’s January), at the eye-catching new concert venue King’s death in a car crash in 1955 Stock produced Place, in York Way, behind King’s Cross station. The a retrospective album of the actor and we ran London Chamber Music Society is hosting this event. a story and pictures. James Dean, of course, The Society is interesting in its ethical attitude, always was a Quaker boy, raised by his aunt and uncle trying to make concerts as financially accessible as who were members of the Back Creek Friends possible. It can trace its roots back to the 1870s in Church in Indiana. London, and developed regular Sunday concerts at South Place, and then Conway Hall from 1929. One could almost say that two venerable institutions are coming Kevin on Sunday together under one fabulously contemporary roof. Kevin Franz is broadcasting more these days, which is gratifying. Kevin is a former general secretary of Quaker Peace and Social Witness. He will be marking Holocaust Day on BBC Radio 4 Sunday worship this weekend (8.10am). To make the programme Kevin and Ed Kessler, a Jewish Friend, went to Auschwitz. We also heard our Friend Tim Phillips, of the Quakers and Business group, parrying Cadbury questions from presenter Roger Bolton on the Sunday programme last weekend. Eye was amused at the acerbic wit of Simon Hoggart, writing in the Guardian of his reaction to the description of Kraft as a ‘plastic cheese’ company: ‘actually, I always thought that Cadbury’s tasted a bit like chocolate- flavoured Dairylea’.

16 the Friend, 29 January 2010 Ad pages 29 Jan 26/1/10 13:42 Page 3

Friends&Meetings QUAKER WOMENS GROUP Births Changes of address Residential weekend, Northfield Meeting House, Birmingham. From Benjamin Charles ASTLEY Peter SPEIRS to 50 Plas Newton 4.30pm, Friday 26 to Sunday after- 2 January, to Anwen Astley Lane, Chester CH2 1PJ. Telephone noon, 28 February. Topic: (Cambridge Hartington Grove 01244 350389. Email unchanged. Relationships. Cost £20. Details Meeting) and Matthew Astley. Carrick Beg also valid but is now from: Eileen Williams 01903 715277 Third grandson for Keren & the house less used. or Maureen Lofthouse 01228 Jonathan Butler of Cambridge Oast 560538. All women welcome. House Meeting. Changes of clerk THE CURE FOR VIOLENCE – AN Deaths END TO WAR, before Guernica LEISTON LM, SUFFOLK From 1 Tapestry, Whitechapel Gallery, January, Clerk: Virginia Marshall, 4 London E1, 6-8pm, 25 March. Margaret HOPPER 16 January, Public debate, free. Bob Johnson, peacefully. Widow of Edward, Meadowlands, Sudbourne, Woodbridge IP12 2BB. James Nayler Foundation, mother of Paul and Maurice. ([email protected]) PO Box 49, [email protected] Member of Swarthmore (Chilterns Ventnor, Isle of Wight, PO38 9AA. AQM) and formerly of Dorking Okehampton and Exeter Meetings. £1 a copy! Memorial Meeting 1.30pm, Changes of meeting Wednesday 3 February at Jordans FMH. Donations: FoR. BLACKPOOL LM From March Judaism Meeting for Worship will only be Golden weddings held on the fourth Sunday each reflections month at 10.45am. Friends Meeting House, 30a Raikes Parade, “I believe that this is an excel- Susie (née Loader) and John lent issue, which we can all WOOD of Cotherstone Meeting Blackpool FY1 4EX. share with our Jewish Friends” celebrate 50 years of marriage on “...congratulations to you and 30.1.2010. Parents of Heather Wood, Diary your guest editors on a fasci- Adrian Wood and Sarah Harding. nating issue on Judaism.” Still at Stalcaire, DL12 8AP. “A great Judaism issue.” BOOK LAUNCH: The O of Home. Tuesday 2 February, 6pm. Copies of our well-received Notices on this page Quaker Centre, Friends House themed issue on Judaism (27 November) are still available Notices should preferably be prepaid. 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ. Jennifer Kavanagh will be reading at the special price of £1 a copy Personal entries (births, marriages, incl. postage, min. 10 copies. deaths, anniversaries, changes of from and signing copies of her latest address, etc.) £16.35 incl. vat. book. Free. Enquiries: 020 7663 Send your order with cheque Meeting and charity notices 1030/[email protected] payable to The Friend to: (changes of clerk, new wardens, Penny Dunn, The Friend, 173 alterations to meeting, diary, etc.) Euston Rd, London NW1 2BJ. £13.91 (zero rated for vat). Max. 35 Put your events in the Friend! words. 3 Diary or Meeting up entries £37 (£31.48); 6 entries £65 (£55.32). Add £1.70 for a copy of the issue with your notice. Entries are accepted at editor’s discretion in a standard house style. A gentle discipline will be exerted to maintain a simplicity of style and wording which excludes terms of endearment and words of tribute. Please include a daytime phone number. Deadline usually Monday morning. Cheques payable The Friend. The Friend, 54a Main Street, Cononley, Keighley BD20 8LL Tel. 01535 630230. Email: [email protected]

the Friend: 29 January 2010 17 Ad pages 29 Jan 26/1/10 13:42 Page 4

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CHARNEY MANOR 2010 PROGRAMME Name Having been awarded the T.S. Eliot Address prize for poetry, Philip Gross has regrettably had to cancel Postcode his proposed course at Charney Manor this Spring. Rates per entry: standard linage 48p/word; semi-display format 74p/word. VAT We apologise for any inconvenience included in rates. Series discount: 5-9 insertions 5%, 10 or more insertions 10%. and very much hope Philip and Zélie may offer this event in 2011.

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