8 October 2010 £1.70 the DISCOVER THE CONTEMPORARYFriend QUAKER WAY

1652 Country – history and inspiration the Friend INDEPENDENT QUAKER JOURNALISM SINCE 1843

CONTENTS – VOL 168 NO 40 3 of BYM trustees reports 4 Quaker marriage procedure 5 Cuts and their consequences 6 A rose by any other name… Ed Morris 7 Why I need the Jonathan Baxter 8-9 Letters 10-12 1652 Country: a land steeped in our faith Roy Stephenson 13-14 Ripples into Waves Carolyn Hayman 16 Q-Eye 17 Friends & Meetings

Cover image: 1652 Country. Wasdale from Westmorland. Photo: stevehicks/flickr CC:BY. See pages 10-12. Images on this page: exterior looking north (above) and the interior (below). Photos: John Hall.

Corrections: In the issue of 3 September, it was stated that thirteen members of the FAU lost their lives during the second world war (page 7). In fact seventeen died in service, as stated in the Clifford Barnard article (13 August). They were: Raymond Pasteur Alderson, Norman Lewis Booth, John Clifford Bough, Quentin Douglas Boyd, John Stephen Briggs, Alan Russell Dickinson, Joseph Denis Frazer, John Douglas Hardy, Albert Thomas Ross Hogg, Peter Joseph Hume, Dennis Edgar Mann, Norah Evelyn Loyd Protheroe, Louis Rowan Rivett, Thomas Lesley Tanner, James Philip Tonks, Clement White, William Allan Wyon.

In the Outreach issue (1 October) the author of ‘New web portal’ was Ann Floyd not Ann Fletcher.

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2 the Friend, 8 October 2010 reported by Ian Kirk-Smith Meeting for Sufferings Clerk of BYM trustees reports

THE RECENT RESIGNATION of two senior a concern about whether there is sufficient clarity members of staff at Friends House, the recording clerk of relationship and whether changes should be and the general secretary of finance and property, contemplated. has prompted interest and concern among Friends in ‘Any change of personnel,’ he said, ‘presents the Britain. opportunity to reassess circumstances and to identify The report of the clerk of Britain priorities, structures and working relationships trustees on Saturday 1 October was, consequently, appropriate to the next phase in the life of the widely anticipated at Meeting for Sufferings. Jonathan institution.’ Fox began by expressing his gratitude for the It was a revealing comment and prompted some many expressions of support for staff and trustees interesting contributions from Friends concerning the as ‘together we have sought to work through the scope and limitations of the role of the recording clerk consequences of the resignations’. and how compatible, or incompatible, it is with the ‘I know that some Friends expect explanation role of a chief executive. of what may or may not have lain behind the ‘The recording clerk has a very difficult role. They resignations,’ he said. He reiterated, in relation to the are given a role without having ultimate responsibility resignation of the recording clerk, an appreciation for the appointment of staff or the budget,’ a Friend of her enormous contribution over recent years and said. Another reflected that the position, in fact, reminded Friends of a statement reported in the was one of many different roles. It was also asked Friend: ‘She feels it is time to step down and that a whether there were difficulties in a position that new person with different skills is needed now to take had to combine both spiritual and managerial the work of change forward…’ responsibilities. Where was the balance between the In explaining the background and giving sacred and the secular? reassurance, he stressed that there was absolutely ‘no A laugh was raised when a Friend asked whether impropriety’ behind either resignation and that both the recording clerk’s role within Quakerism was like had been personal decisions. They were regretted. ‘We that of the archbishop of Canterbury. No, this was learn from the past and move forward,’ he said. He not the case, another Friend explained from the floor, then talked about what has been done. and it was suggested later that the role of a town clerk, ‘Michael Hutchinson,’ he said, ‘has stepped in as administering but not holding absolute power within acting recording clerk for the interim period and he is a local authority, was a better analogy. providing leadership and maintaining the momentum In regard to the broader picture of change, one of the work.’ Vincent Poupard has been appointed representative felt the trustees were ‘going about things interim general secretary of finance. Two part-time the right way’, while another Friend was concerned human resources consultants have been engaged. at the ‘speed and pace’ of change and was ‘very JOnathan stressed that ‘the work goes on’. uncomfortable’ at the thought that decisions might trustees have the already have been made. Was Meeting for Sufferings to responsibility for the employment and recruitment merely rubber stamp such decisions or was it a place of all staff and, specifically, the recording clerk. This where suggestions for consideration, and discernment, used to lie with Meeting for Sufferings. A recruitment were brought? group has been appointed and a new recording clerk Another representative, wisely, expressed the is to be appointed in December and will begin work at opinion that Friends should be positive, look to the Friends House in early 2011. future, and that the present situation offered a good The consultation process has highlighted that a opportunity to ‘look at fundamentals’. crucial issue is the relationship between the recording clerk, management meeting and trustees. There is See the advertisement for the recording clerk on page 20.

the Friend, 8 October 2010 3 Meeting for Sufferings Quaker marriage procedure – chapter 16 revision

THERE IS STEADY PROGRESS TOWARDS equality ensuring that solemnisation is publicly accessible and in marriage arrangements following the decision made rightly held. at Yearly Meeting 2009 in York. A fidelity to the to equality underlined At the July Meeting for Sufferings three key issues the revisions, and in arriving at terms that can be used were raised in relation to the revision of chapter 16 appropriately by same sex and opposite sex couples of Quaker faith & practice. The Church Government in the context of a Quaker declaration, where each Advisory Committee (CGAC) sought guidance on: party makes a promise about taking the other in a the harmonisation of time and place of solemnisation marriage relationship, the revised draft proposed that of marriage across England and Wales and Scotland; the couple may choose between ‘spouse’, ‘husband and alternatives to the words ‘husband and wife’ in the wife’ and ‘partner in marriage’. There was unity on Quaker marriage declaration; and a non-theistic this revision. alternative to ‘with God’s help’ in the declaration. The option to use, in the Quaker marriage As well as guidance from Meeting for Sufferings, the declaration, the words ‘through the assistance of the CGAG received over thirty comments from members Light’ was not taken up. The phrases ‘through divine of the Meeting, registering officers and other Friends. assistance’ and ‘with God’s help’ were retained. The changes were met with approval. A Friend made the point that the word ‘standing’ Quaker marriages, in the revised draft, may be in the ceremony should be changed. She had recently solemnised on any day and at any time in a Meeting been married and her husband was in a wheelchair house or other publicly accessible place, subject when he exchanged his vows. to certain safeguards; so the request to ‘widen the It was recognised that there should be consistency availability of time and place throughout Britain’ has between versions of the new draft revision of chapter been recognised. This offers maximum flexibility while 16 in the English and Welsh languages.

Extend the hand of friendship Plain language FRIENDS HOUSE IS BEING used by more and more outside AN APPEAL TO RETURN to ‘plain groups as Britain Yearly Meeting seeks to maximise the income language’ was made at Meeting for from lettings. Sufferings. Paul Grey, head of hospitality and services, talked about Toby Gibbons, Young Friends some of the dilemmas this now involved. General Meeting representative on The decision to accept or reject a request to rent space at Meeting for Sufferings, urged Friends Friends House is not made by Quakers. It is made, on a day-to- to consider the kind of language they day basis, by an independent company. use in documents. ‘We are making,’ Paul said, ‘decisions on your behalf. We He brought the concern to life need to know that we are interpreting your policy correctly. It by giving some examples from is a dilemma at times, for we can not always know who a group documents, explaining that they have invited to speak or what their views are.’ required a very high reading age to Friends spoke in support of the work of hospitality staff at understand, and urged Friends to Friends House. There were risks that visitors might not respect focus on clarity and simplicity in Quaker values; but it was also recognised, in a society where their use of language. there is some racism and intolerance, that it was important to His appeal was strongly supported maintain the value of openness. by a representative who felt that As one Friend said, to much approval: ‘I would rather be difficult language only ‘excluded’ open and welcoming and take the risk that some people might some people when we should be pull the wool over our eyes. I would rather extend the hand of using ‘plain language’ that would friendship. People should know what we stand for.’ make them feel ‘included’.

4 the Friend, 8 October 2010 [email protected] News Cuts and their consequences

THE PROPOSED CUTS by the government were poverty was growing and that the homeless were more a concern brought to Meeting for Sufferings by a vulnerable that ever. number of Area Meetings. Reading Friends reminded Meeting for The submissions all highlighted the fact that the Sufferings that if these cuts were going ‘to have a poorest in our society may be ‘disproportionately disproportionate effect on the most disadvantaged affected by cuts in public services, particularly when people in the country then our to equality combined with reduced pay for those in work, jobs and justice require us to “speak truth to power” and to that are harder to find and benefits that are more raise awareness among politicians.’ difficult to access’. Helen Drewery, of Quaker Peace and Social Witness, Mid Thames Area Meeting cited research that many urged Friends to write to their MPs suggesting some working people are receiving benefits that remain ideas that might save money, such as cancelling well below the minimum income standard; that many Trident and reducing the prison population. people in full time work earn less than the low pay While recommending a tax on financial transactions, threshold; that many spend a high proportion of she hoped that the government would ring fence the their income on private sector rents because of the overseas aid budget. lack of social housing; that the number of children in Ian Kirk-Smith

UN to discuss children of imprisoned parents

THE UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE on the world. It will produce a report highlighting, from a Rights of the Child (CRC) will devote a day of general child rights perspective, issues such as contact with an discussion next year to children of prisoners. In imprisoned parent, what children should be told about previous years the days of discussion have covered a parent’s imprisonment and when babies should subjects such as the right to education in emergencies, live with imprisoned parents. It is also expected to HIV and AIDS, children with disabilities and the girl influence the questions the CRC asks governments and child. the recommendations it makes to them when probing This day will be the first time a UN body has how well they uphold children’s rights. The committee discussed the issue in depth and was cheered by the also usually adopts a recommendation at the end of Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) Geneva, the day of discussion. whose human rights and refugees team has worked ‘This was actually the third time this proposal had on children of prisoners since 2003. QUNO took a been put to them, and it was pretty touch-and-go leading role among the fifty-odd groups that proposed whether they’d support it because there were other this topic, writing the proposal, contacting potential suggestions with considerable backing’, explained signatories and speaking to CRC members. Oliver Robertson from QUNO. ‘I don’t know what ‘The CRC only has one day of general discussion a swung their decision, but the fact that this issue has year, so we’re delighted that they’ll consider this issue not been discussed in depth anywhere in the UN until in September 2011’, said Rachel Brett of QUNO. ‘It now was a strong argument.’ should mean greater attention to and understanding Preparations for the day will form a major plank of this neglected issue by governments and other parts of the human rights and refugees work over the next of the UN.’ year, as QUNO aims to make it as productive as The day of general discussion, which was announced possible. ‘It’s an opportunity for us too’, said Rachel on 1 October, will gather and discuss information and Brett, ‘to help find answers to questions we’ve had for evidence about children of prisoners from around the a long time.’

the Friend, 8 October 2010 5 Opinion A rose by any other name… Ed Morris asks: What’s in a name? A bluebell? Or, a tulip? Photo: S Pisharam/flickr CC:BY.

t our last elders and overseers meeting, we superiority, age and authority. While ‘overseer’ had heard that another Meeting in the region felt whiffs of gangmasters and the slave trade. Oh dear. Atheir role was better described as ‘worship and pastoral care committee’. We were invited to consider Moving towards a new name, my wife was if we should do the same. One senior Friend said how uncomfortable with committees; I felt ‘spiritual care’ difficult it would be to change with a tradition with better described the elders’ role than ‘worship’. which he had become so comfortable, but, having experience of several different Meetings over many We kicked all these ideas around for a bit. Or rather, years, wondered if any still followed the traditional I think we passed round a new baby tenderly, to try practice of elders sitting at their own reserved bench, and discern if God might give us a name for it. which in the past was even elevated above the others! Next time, we may determine whether to meet We recalled our own experiences of coming into as our local ‘spiritual and pastoral care group’. If membership, and the sometimes opaque ways and this becomes a trend in Meetings, one can envisage means of Quakers, which could even provide barriers ‘elders and overseers’ continuing to appear in brackets to understanding and hinder a desire to join. (One afterwards. If this sounds familiar, recall that we are enquirer said: ‘I don’t want to be overseen by anyone!’) the ‘Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)’ and that may change one day. (We’re still Our Meeting has shared eldership and oversight, so agonising about ‘Christian’ and its definition. We (getting more radical by the hour), we then considered didn’t even discuss ‘Meeting for Sufferings’, or how we if it was even necessary to divide our roles into those explain what it is to non-Quakers! But that’s another responsible for nurturing the spiritual life of the story.) Meeting and the right holding of Meeting for Worship, and those concerned with the more practical aspects of The letter killeth, of course, but might it be time to pastoral care (a distinction which, incidentally, arose start laying down just a little archaic nomenclature? towards the end of the eighteenth century. See Quaker faith & practice 12.05). They so often overlap, after all. It would be very interesting to know if any other Meetings have been doing anything like this. Several felt that in this day and age, ‘elder’, particularly to non-Friends, conjured up images of Ed is a member of Witney Local Meeting.

6 the Friend, 8 October 2010 Comment Why I need the Quakers ‘Do Friends prize unity over truth? Do we confuse unity with unanimity, and so lose out on truth? And because we care so much for the unity of our body, do we push down in ourselves and in others the voices which speak up for the new, those who see the possibility of change and of development? Is the Quaker commandment that “thou shalt not rock the boat”?’ Beth Allen, 2007

or the last twelve years I’ve been an active testimonies really mean to us: how they were enacted attender involved in various Local Meetings. within our history and how they shape, or shake, our FI’ve served on Quaker Peace & Social Witness’s sense of the present. (QPSW’s) peace campaigning and networking committee, participated in Edinburgh Meeting’s We need to recognise that ‘the social tensions caused Living Witness Project and taken up an advisory role by persecution’ have not abated. But we, as a corporate for QPSW’s peace and sustainability programme. I body, and as reflected in our Local Meetings, have, on rehearse this to state my commitment. And I state my a local level, stepped out of the fray. Our advertising commitment because commitment needs community. makes this clear: blue skies, green leaves and white doves promote the testimonies. Here we follow the I want to make one thing clear: I need the Quakers Quaker shadow by avoiding open conflict, providing to uphold my commitment to the Quaker testimonies. images to edify rather than images and narratives to Not to the Religious Society of Friends, as such, but unsettle! However, by playing down the conflict we do to the testimonies that the Society claims to believe. I ourselves, and others, an injustice. We forget, in our acknowledge the commitment of individual members complacency, that persecution is rife. The society in and attenders. I know many people who live out the which we live is a society in open opposition to much testimonies in profound and courageous ways. I know that underpins our testimonies – not least our growing others who have a simplicity and an integrity that is not testimony to environmental sustainability. easily matched. But I also experience within individual Meetings and the decisions taken (or not taken) by our To remedy this situation I propose two options. The national committees, a lack of clarity, and therefore first is that we give away our Meeting houses and meet commitment, regarding what it means to be a Quaker. in public places. This would remind us of the contested nature of our testimonies and of the resurgent This is nothing new. As John Punshon observed in diminishment of public freedoms now facing groups Portrait in Grey ‘at various times Yearly Meeting had to who challenge the status quo. Alternatively, and more face the fact that there was considerable compromise realistically, we could use our Meeting houses to enact over the testimonies. Paradoxically, it might have been a radical, alternative vision of the Quaker testimonies. [religious] toleration that encouraged this. When the social tensions caused by persecution abated, there was That the transformation of our Meeting houses a much diminished need for personal loyalty within into centres of radicality is my preferred option the group.’ says something about the imaginative realism that I think Quakers need to grasp. It takes account of our I am not advocating a slavish adherence to Quaker resources and uses them adventurously. It honours orthodoxy. Rather, this is my plea addressed to a our history, responds to present conflicts and corporate body to take responsibility for critically opportunities and it brings hope. Without this type reflecting upon and proposing a course of action that of action Quakers, as a corporate body, will continue seeks to clarify who and what we are as a community. acting as ‘a life raft for survivors’ (as I heard a recent Recently much time and energy has been given to ministry proclaim). But as with all life rafts, there’s a promoting our corporate identity. We now have time to step out and make a stand. redesigned logos, publishing formats and a Quaker coffee shop. But what we don’t have, in my experience, I stand with the testimonies. But what about the is a corporate sense of vision. Our identity is empty: a Quakers? blue Q, the centre of which is waiting to be filled. And Jonathan Baxter we shall only find this vision by reflecting on what the Jonathan attends Dundee Meeting.

the Friend, 8 October 2010 7 Letters All views expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the Friend

Quaker Business Method Sin and forgiveness In this correspondence, I think that pressure of time Thanks to Richard Bass and Joan Macalpine for their has been mentioned only in connection with the article ‘Quakers and sin’ (24 September). I found this sessions of Yearly Meeting. However, I see pressure of quite challenging to my understanding of Quakerism. time as a widespread threat to right ordering in our I have always welcomed the lack of emphasis on sin Meetings; getting through all the business can be seen and redemption amongst contemporary Friends and as the priority. Unfortunately, God will not be hurried. had understood that this was in line with the insights Alan Russell of early Friends. The article sent me on a lively quest East Cheshire Meeting through the subject index of Quaker faith & practice. Here in contradiction of the article I found many Quaker faith & practice 3.06 gives clear guidance about references to sin. I was particularly comforted in my the nature of the unity we seek within the context of understanding of Quakerism by 26.29 where Isaac the Quaker business method. This reads (in part): Penington is quoted: ‘When we unite with a minute offered by our clerk, we ‘We were directed to search for the least of all seeds express, not a sudden agreement of everyone present and to mind the lowest appearance thereof, which was its with the prevailing view, but rather a confidence in turning against sin and darkness; we came by degrees to our tried and tested way of seeking to recognise God’s find we had met with the pure living eternal Spirit.’ will. We act as a community, whose members love and For early and I hope contemporary Friends the trust each other. We should be reluctant to prevent significance of a sense of sin or indeed any discomfort the acceptance of a minute which the general body is where it points us, which, with grace, may be toward of Friends present feels to be right’. The definition the divine. The significance of the Jesus story is for me of unity upon which the Quaker Business Method is that we are called to live without a sense of sin. based should not be confused with unanimity. John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress is crucial in the Richard Pashley article. I dimly recalled Bunyan as an enemy of [email protected] . A web search indicates (www.jstor.org/ pss/4173781) that in Pilgrim’s Progress early Quakers As someone who helped draft the leaflet are characterised as Mister Ignorance due to their How Quaker meetings take decisions, the recent reliance on personal insight and experience over correspondence interests me deeply! scripture. Wikipedia indicates that Bunyan wrote I began attending Quaker meetings in 1990, so several attacks on Quakers prompting ‘Our George’ Roger Hill has a far longer experience than mine. The to write the engagingly titled The Great Mystery of the earliest guidance I have access to is the 1980 edition Great Whore Unfolded as a rebuttal. of the 1968 Church Government, which states in For me a hugely influential book has been Rex paragraph 719 as follows: ‘It is sometimes assumed Ambler’s book Light to Live By. This encourages us to that unity can be found only by the submission of a use George Fox’s method of focusing on the source of minority to the decision of a majority. This is not so our discomfort rather than passing it on to another but neither should it be assumed that positive steps agency. I have found this very powerful in dealing with cannot be taken without unanimity. A minority should ‘all this uninvited activity in our brains’ as mentioned not seek to dominate by imposing a veto on action which in the article. the general body of Friends feels to be right. Throughout For once I find myself proud to be ‘Ignorant’! our history as a Society we have found that through Pete Duckworth the continuing search to know the will of God, a 99 Dillotford Avenue, Coventry CV3 5DT different and deeper unity is opened to us.’ [my italics] All my Quaker life I have heard teachings that unity While I found the ‘Quakers and sin’ article useful, is not the same as unanimity, and that consensus is not it did not, with all due respect, in my opinion, go our aim in our corporate discernment. Having said anywhere near far enough to address the topic fully. that, I can recall the very first Meeting for Worship To obtain forgiveness from God, it is necessary to for Business that I ever attended, when the Meeting recognise just what sin has been committed, to regret deferred a (not particularly crucial) decision, purely that it happened, to tell as many as possible (within out of tenderness to a very elderly Friend who felt sensible and reasonable limits, of course), to pledge uneasy with the proposed action. What I learned from not to do it again and then never to do it again. that was that in all cases our discernment should be When all this is placed before God and forgiveness guided by the question: What does love require of us? requested, the burden will be lifted provided the sin Stevie Krayer is not committed again; if the sin is committed again South Wales Area Meeting there will be no forgiveness.

8 the Friend, 8 October 2010 [email protected]

I do not think that ‘it seems to help if we sake of completeness, but by creating formulae that acknowledge and confess’ is of sufficient power and enable those participating to avoid any reference intent. God requires little input from the sinner and to the deity represents a quite major step in a new such effort puts us in closer communion with Him. direction. I believe that this should be undertaken only JM Strachan after the most intensive consideration of its (major) 17 Lowther Drive, Garforth, Leeds LS25 1EW implications. Roger Iredale The article on ‘Quakers and sin’ interested me Mid Somerset Area Meeting enormously. With a mainly Methodist and Church of Ed: See page 4. England religious upbringing, it lightened my guilt for past sins when I joined, for a comparatively short Taking our Christianity seriously period, the Roman Catholic faith in which I could Our Friend Ben Barman’s letter (24 September) regularly and willingly confess my sins to the parish suggesting that if ‘BYM Quakerism is to survive priest. What I found rather shallow about this was the then we need to take our Christianity seriously’ was ease with which I was absolved of these, merely by refreshing. It’s as well to remember George Fox and saying ‘three Hail Marys’ and a ‘Glory be…’ regularly. the early Quakers were evangelical Christians. They Many other strange practices used in the church suffered terrible tortures, imprisonment, and even disturbed me considerably and after a number of years death for their Christian faith, and I wonder how without a clear faith, I was accepted into membership many Friends today would do the same? Many people of Friends. From then onwards, what I thought of love the church, and not God, which is one of the as ‘sins’ were completely understood and accepted reasons why, in my opinion, George Fox rejected all by Friends as an inevitable part of my psychology the church rituals, creeds, hymn singing, prayer books, and the basic ‘Christian’ faith that seems to uphold altars, and priests. Quakers should get back to their Friends’ confidence in themselves and in each other roots, and worship Christ as Fox did in his time. seemed to be everything I needed for contact with the Dennis Franklin overall Spirit of Truth, which pervades the lives of most 5 Crampton Court, Grosvenor Road, Broadstairs genuine Quakers. CT10 2XU The last ten lines, or so, of Richard and Joan’s article sum up everything I feel I need to know about Jews for justice ‘positive’ and ‘negative’, ‘right’ and ‘wrong’. I was impressed and gratified by Stevie Krayer’s article Am I naïve – at the age of 84 1/2? (24 September) detailing her active opposition to Ken Hartford Israeli behaviour in the occupied territories. She told 15 Durham Mews, Butt Lane, Beverley HU17 8NZ readers that she now fasts on Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement. She wrote: ‘Above all, I do it to God or Light: Atheist Quaker identify myself as a Jew – in that long tradition of Jews A recent public declaration by a Friend in our area who care about justice for all, not just for Jews.’ that she was an ‘atheist Quaker’ more than raised No doubt her convictions and actions owe much, a few eyebrows in our Local Meeting. The general too, to the fact that she is a Quaker. I would restate her and justified feeling was that the two terms were quoted sentence: ‘Above all I act as a human being – in largely incompatible. The recent proposal to allow that long line of people who have cared for the whole those engaging in a Quaker marriage to use the term human race’. All credit to Stevie Krayer. But unless our ‘through the assistance of the Light’ instead of ‘with actions are guided by our common humanity there is a God’s help’ causes me similar concern. I have been bleak future for us all. trying to envisage how Advices and Queries would look David Rubinstein and sound if we replaced the word ‘God’ with ‘the York Area Meeting Light’ throughout. Correspondence in the Friend and elsewhere Send letters to: Letters to the editor, the Friend, 173 indicates evident concern on the part of many Quakers Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ at the apparent drift of the Society towards a humanist Email: [email protected] stance. My understanding is that the group set up to Please include your full postal address and telephone review the marriage vows was created primarily to look number and a reference (issue, title) to articles. Please at the terms ‘husband’, ‘wife’ and other possible phrases indicate whether you prefer your address, email or in the light of our decisions about same-sex marriages. Meeting or other detail to be published with your name. It is understandable that the working group would We reserve the right to edit letters. wish to update other parts of the wording for the

the Friend, 8 October 2010 9 Origins 1652 Country: a land steeped in our faith

Roy Stephenson explores the rich heritage of the lands where our Quaker faith first grew and finds lessons to use in the present day

f you are new to Quakerism, there can be no better What you will find is a place where people took the place to begin to explore what it may mean for us demands of faith seriously and were transformed Ithan the place in which it began. by the experience. In letting themselves be changed, they helped make possible some of the great changes Go to the beautiful Meeting houses one finds that happened to the world between the sixteenth dotted throughout the Westmorland and Cumbrian and the eighteenth centuries of this era: religious countryside and spend time in them, soaking in the and then political toleration, the independence of atmosphere of peace and calm, and you will feel juries, the anti-slavery movement, the industrial refreshed. Worship with Quakers there and you may revolution – all these, and much more, can be said begin to feel changed by the experience. These are to have been brought about at least partly because of places where it feels as if, to use TS Eliot’s phrase, the existence of Quakerism. Understand Quakerism ‘prayer has been valid’. That awareness is both and you are helped to understand why the world is humbling and comforting. as it is. If, alongside your understanding, there is the appreciation of what these places may give you of the personal value of peace, quiet and inward listening, then you will have become closer to that which continues to inspire Friends today.

For a Quaker, however, the question is more complex, and it is because of the ideas that the area itself helped inspire. There is something paradoxical about visiting the area where the Quaker movement began to be a force in the religious and political life of first of all England, but very rapidly much of the rest of the British Isles, Europe and North America. Our experience has led us to the principle that before God, all are equal; yet we respect the members of the ‘Valiant Sixty’, and in particular George Fox and , above perhaps all other Quakers. In a Firbank Fell. Photo: martin_kelley/flickr CC. similar vein our testimony to equality can be applied

10 the Friend, 8 October 2010 Looking south and east over the Trough of Bowland towards Pendle Hill and Yorkshire. Photo: tallpomlin/flickr CC:BY. to places too – so why honour one area in particular do not mind missing all the rest of what can happen almost as if it were sacred? here, though this ‘rest’ might be much harder work. For if 1652 Country is not about the past it must be The answers to this conundrum do not lie in the about confronting the present and the future. That information one can acquire from visiting the area. We means looking for the challenges the place presents to do not visit north-west England for the facts we can its visitors, and seeing what they tell us about our lives. garner there. Nor do we visit to see the places where Quakerism began. I know this sounds strange, but For everyone this will be different, but if we come there is a sense in which even if those places looked the at this with a common Quaker thread, some shared same, which they do not, we would still not see where themes emerge. First, there is the challenge of the Quakerism started. Since the seventeenth century message. George Fox had a vision on Pendle Hill, but we have gone through the Industrial Revolution it was not a private vision – it was of a great people with all its attendant changes, the relative status of to be gathered. This challenges us both to have our various countries has changed as a result – and we own vision and to share it and stand up for it with see the world through eyes that are conditioned by sympathiser and critic alike. Friends nowadays call the romantic movement. When George Fox first came this ‘outreach’ and it is not the same as evangelism. to Lancashire, Westmorland and Cumberland these Whether or not people agree with us is up to them; places were seen as a wasteland, a wilderness, a place what we are challenged to do is to share our vision of of horror from which any reasonable person would what the world can be. want to escape; and this would have been the view of the residents as much as the visitors. Agriculture Second, we are called to live that vision ourselves. was unremitting, backbreaking manual toil that filled It is notable that until he reached Pendle, George Fox the lives of ninety per cent of the people; roads were was warning people of ‘the coming of the Day of the unpaved muddy tracks and travel was difficult and Lord’. Afterwards, the slogan was that ‘Christ has come slow; clothing was wool, leather and linen – heavy to teach his people himself’. He went on to explain and water-retentive; and the average calorie intake of what this implied for people’s lives in the ‘reasonings’ a labourer was about 4,000 per day – enough for an he had with those he encountered, wherever that athlete today, but then just what one needed to survive. may have been. When we unpack this change in his message what we see is that after climbing Pendle Hill, If we do not visit 1652 Country to re-experience George Fox tries to live a transformed life. His vision the past – if only because we cannot – are we just changes him. In the same way, we cannot expect others sightseeing? The average holidaymaker does not expect to adopt our ideas of how to live if we do not make the to be changed by their time away from the workaday effort ourselves. world: they just want a break, a respite from the daily grind. And you can visit on this basis, if you want, and (continued on page 12)

the Friend, 8 October 2010 11 Pendle Hill. Photo: Markc123/flickr CC:BY.

The third challenge is to do with role models. For One of the biggest differences between early Friends many of us, and Fox was one such, the process of and us today is that they were religious revolutionaries, living a transformed life begins with finding someone whereas today we tend to be social evolutionaries. We whose life exemplifies our ideals, and then trying to want to change society gradually, slowly, piecemeal copy it. and by mutual consent. In the 1650s the aim was not to change aspects of the world – it was to change Out of this our own way develops. George Fox made the world altogether. The radicalism of our founders Christ Jesus his wayfinder and example. When he has mothered British and perhaps North American recognised that he must preach on top of Firbank Fell, political radicalism ever since, but there have been it was because Jesus had preached on the mountain. many fathers. One difference between modern and The challenge for us is to find our own role models to seventeenth-century radicalism is that ours tends to emulate and grow from. be centred round a programme of change, whereas back then it was recognised that it is people who must However, coming from the culture that most of change first, for change to be effective. Are we also us do, Jesus will continue to throw up a challenge challenged to ask how radical is our vision today – or about how to live – one we can either take up or turn are we too comfortable with things the way they are? down, but which we should not ignore. What was remarkable, and radicalising, about Jesus’ way of faith We can leave 1652 Country with these questions in was that it was not based on acquiring knowledge or our heads and in our hearts. Underneath them should practising techniques or rituals; it was based on the be the beginnings of some realisations also. First, that acceptance of the love of God and its power to lead when we come to this place of seventeenth-century us into a transformed existence – in response to God horror and ugliness and now see only its beauty, we and to each other, initially, and by extension to the rest need to realise that our own, humdrum corner of the of the created universe. George Fox experienced the world has just as much potential to be a Divine Place power of this message and based his preaching and as has beautiful north-west England. And second, we his life on it. Over the years we have learned to express can perhaps remind ourselves that just as Fox found this as our testimony to equality, and living up to it is a People of God in the religious and social cast-offs still the most radicalising challenge with which we are of his world, so we too can see that of God in the faced. meanest, dirtiest and most rejected of today’s outcasts. We may find ourselves led to see God at work through We continue to find equality frightening, so those we find hardest to tolerate; and even – the experientially, religiously and politically its challenges biggest surprise of all – in, and through, ourselves. remain under-explored. Yet we know that equality works. In societies in which differences are discounted, a more stable, peaceful and harmonious milieu develops. George Fox taught equality before God but Roy has had a long association with the activities of also in commercial transactions, the jobs market, the the 1652 committee of Quaker Life, which is a part of family and in political life. Are we up to this challenge? Britain Yearly Meeting.

12 the Friend, 8 October 2010 Peacebuilding Ripples into Waves

Carolyn Hayman, of Peace Direct, announces a new booklet and opportunities to meet peacebuilders

Throne of weapons, by Kester, created from weapons collected by FOMICRES in Mozambique.

ow inspiring was the story from Bradford, Mozambique about how 3km of lime green ribbon was used A group of former child soldiers set up their own Hto make a peaceful challenge to the presence organisation, FOMICRES (Mozambican Force for of the English Defence League (EDL) in Bradford! (A Crime Investigation and Social Reinsertion) and tide of light flows in Bradford, 10 September) This kind worked for ten years to take more than 800,000 of imaginative public mobilisation is the meat and weapons out of circulation. Abandoned bicycles drink of the peacebuilding groups that Peace Direct were shipped from Japan by the container load and supports in conflict areas around the world, yet it’s given as collective property to villages that handed rare to find it reported in the UK. over weapons. Others received building materials, sewing machines or tractors. Most of the weapons How can such actions be scaled up to make a were blown to bits (ironically South Africa, which had real impact across a conflict zone or country? Too stoked the conflict in Mozambique, then provided often, locally led peacebuilding is regarded as small police training in weapons destruction), but some scale – worthy and well intentioned, but insufficient were turned into art works, one of which, the Throne to really challenge the proponents of violence. To of Weapons, will feature towards the end of the BBC’s challenge this perception, Peace Direct has published, ‘History of the World in 100 Objects’. The cost per with the Quaker UN Offices in New York and Geneva, weapon retrieved was a small fraction of what the two- a pamphlet Ripples into Waves, with examples of really year UN disarmament programme, UNAMOZ (UN large scale locally led peacebuilding. Peacekeeping Mission in Mozambique), had spent. (continued on page 14)

the Friend, 8 October 2010 13 header

Somaliland The international community stood aside from the peace process, not wanting to support a separate peace in part of Somalia. This actually helped the peace process – without funding from outside donors, the government had to make alliances with business and the clans in order to function. Successive rounds of peace negotiations across Somaliland were funded largely from within Somalia, with some support from the Mennonites in the USA, including around $500,000 ‘petrol and rice’ money. Now Somaliland is the most peaceful part of that troubled country.

Kenya Dekha Ibrahim Abdi, who many Friends will have heard of, responded to the post-election violence by Kenyan peacebuilder Dekha Ibrahim Abdi in action with a local helping to form Concerned Citizens for Peace. CCP’s civil society group. Photo courtesy Peace Direct. members saw the way things were going even before the election results were announced, and by the time the international team of mediators arrived, led by Kofi Annan, their work was well underway.

They held open meetings every day to begin with, where anyone who had a concern about where violence might break out, or an idea of what to do about it, could find people to work with. They also worked with media and mobile phone companies to make sure that strong messages were going out about nonviolence, rather than the inflammatory calls to violence that were such a big factor in the Rwandan genocide.

UN staff and others have listened attentively to the messages in Ripples into Waves, and it has now been circulated internally to all sixty UN peace and development advisers worldwide. Its message is not Peacebuilder Henri Ladyi in Congo DRC, with armed rebel that local is good and international intervention is bad, militia men. Photo courtesy Peace Direct. but rather that they are complementary.

A useful metaphor is the wall. You can imagine an externally brokered peace agreement as being like the stones in a wall. The work of local, insider peacebuilding constitutes the cement that holds those stones in place. Without cement, the wall will fall down.

There are opportunities to meet the eleven local peacebuilders that Peace Direct supports on 13 and 14 October (evenings) in London. Email [email protected] or call 0207 549 0285 for details.

Ripples into Waves will be launched on 13 October or read it online at www.insightonconflict.org/from-local- to-national-peacebuilding/ Abandoned bicycles were shipped from Japan by the container Carolyn is a member of North West London Area load and given as collective property to villages that handed Meeting. over weapons. Mozambican bike. Photo: Bikejuju/flickr CC:BY.

14 the Friend, 8 October 2010 Ad pages 8 Oct 5/10/10 8:53 Page 1

ST CUTHMAN’S Located near ’s Blue Idol in Coolham, West Sussex. Run by RC Diocese of Arundel & Brighton and open to people of all faiths and none. Facilities include: a Quiet House with 16 en-suite rooms; 25 acres of grounds; wholesome food. Individuals, couples and groups QPSW Relief Grants welcomed. Residential bookings for a min of 2 nights. Day guests welcome for Applications now being sought Quiet Days. Separate catered facilities for non-residential meetings (max 22). For further details: St Cuthman’s, Applications are now being sought for these annual grants available for Coolham, Horsham RH13 8QL. projects in the UK and overseas. All projects/programmes requesting 01403 741220. www.stcuthmans.com support should be for the relief of people who are suffering as a result Email:[email protected] of natural disasters, climate change, war or conflict but not for immediate crisis relief. Each project must have a Britain Yearly Meeting Quaker link (person or Quaker group) and the application should arise from the concern of Friends, supported at least by their local meetings. Projects need not be Quaker Week led and existing as well as new projects may be supported. issue Annual grants may be up to £6000 per project. Single payments might be made but grants for two or three years may also be considered. £1 a These grants may cover only part of the total funding required. copy. Application packs and further details from Debbie Taylor, Programme Manager Education and Grants Buy QPSW, Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ copies Tel: 020 7663 1038. E-mail: [email protected] for your The last date for requesting application packs is 31 December 2010 and Meeting, friends and the closing date for completed applications is 31 January 2011. family. See order form page 19.

Britain Yearly Meeting Head of Library and Archives Initially fixed term twelve month contract. Salary: £39,520 We are looking for a librarian or archivist to lead our library team, Ifield Park initially for a minimum period of one year. The role involves managing Residential and Nursing Home staff, developing and promoting the Library, its diverse range of Crawley, West Sussex collections and services. Also, implementing and developing the Ifield Park is set in 3.5 acres of Library's strategic plan. We are committed to widening access to beautiful grounds on the edge of these unique and rich collections and making them better known. Crawley. We offer a permanent This is an exciting period in the history of the Library. home to 72 residents in two resi- The post holder will be an experienced professional with strong dential and one nursing home. We communication, team leadership, planning and organisational skills. also provide palliative care, respite You should have up to date knowledge of the key issues in libraries and short stays. In addition, Ifield and archives and best practice in their management. Previous Park has recently opened a new wing caring for dementia. experience of managing an archive or library service is essential, as is management of staff and budgets. The Library is located in We offer high quality care within a Friends House, Euston Road, London. homely atmosphere, to enable resi- dents to maintain as much inde- Applications close: 5pm, 25 October. Interviews: 3 November. pendence as feasible, with a busy Further details and application pack are available at and varied activities programme. www.quaker.org.uk/jobs or contact To visit, or for more details, just [email protected] or 020 7663 1111. call Louise Steward or Jennie Registered Charity No. 1127633. Whitfield on 01293 594200.

the Friend, 8 October 2010 15 Eye [email protected]

10:10:10+ Quaker Week #2 10 October is 10:10:10 day, an opportunity for those EYE … ‘IS A QUAKER. It’s Quaker week! This is a committed to a ten per cent reduction in carbon good week to ask me questions about Quakers.’ Here’s emissions in 2010 to raise the profile of their work. a simple way to do some outreach with a Facebook By happy coincidence, learn s Eye, 10 October is a status update if you’re familiar with such things. Our Sunday in Quaker Week and at Reading Meeting it is Friend in the know says that it is a great way to start the venue for a Mid-Thames Area Meeting. conversations. Not being Friends to stop at a mere 10:10:10, they will begin their day at 10:10:10:10:10, followed by Meeting for Worship. Members of Reading’s A gallery of one sustainability and climate change group will coordinate a shared lunch (and later Area Meeting tea) EYE WAS AT the Prisoners’ Education Trust annual of locally grown and/or home-prepared food wherever lecture last week to hear John Sentamu give an possible. address. He spoke of his high regard for restorative Area Meeting agenda will include Local Meetings’ justice in a wide-reaching talk about prisons and actions to reduce carbon emissions (they are all active). prisoners. Activities for all ages are likely to include looking at The media response was intriguing. The Daily how Reading’s carbon emissions have reduced by eight Telegraph headline was ‘Archbishop of York: Jail risks per cent already this year and what more can be done, creating “underclass”’; The Daily Mail went with similar achievements by other Meetings, a swap shop/ ‘Criminals must stop dodging the blame: Sentamu bring and buy, display of quilts and quilt-making (to wants tougher prisons’; and The Yorkshire Post said warm elderly Friends in their cooler Meeting house), ‘Rehabilitation not longer jail sentences the answer, and a game for Friends to list everything which they says Sentamu’. think could be made even more sustainable. They also In a question and answer session after the hope to prepare the burial ground garden for some lecture John encouraged people to send words of fruit trees. encouragement to decision-makers when they make good decisions, otherwise ‘all they get is criticism’. The archbishop also spoke about the decline of ethics and his concern that there has been a carelessness with An excellent gift truth. Speaking of how he prepares his thoughts on THERE’S SOMETHING about Quakers and cake. At issues such as these, he said that he always plays his Gillian Ashmore’s leaving tea last Friday in Friends music to a gallery of one, and that one is God. House, the outgoing recording clerk was presented Afterward, PET director Pat Jones explained the dire with a cake with a picture of the Friends House situation they were facing in their field, noting that Quaker Centre’s worship room. over the summer there were over 200 redundancies Gillian thanked those who had first appointed her in education prison staff. She said that feedback from and said that she is a restless person, a change person prisoners who benefit from education has been that and had been impatient to get things done. She added ‘learning creates freedom’. that it is worth putting in enormous effort for the Yearly Meeting. Contributions from Friends for a leaving gift had been turned into CAF vouchers to spend on charities of Gillian’s choice, plus a copy of Ted Milligan’s The Breathtaking Biographical Dictionary of British Quakers in Commerce EYE WATCHED The First Movie at the weekend, a and Industry 1775-1920. ‘I would never buy this’, film by Mark Cousins that centres upon the children Gillian remarked, so a fitting present it was. of Goptapa, a village in Iraqi Kurdistan. ‘I consciously wanted to make something beautiful’, said Mark, at the question and answer session after the film, which shows Mark and his colleagues bringing films to Quaker Week #1 Goptapa, then setting up an outdoor cinema showing EYE IS HAVING a well-earned rest after beginning films for young people. It was a great film even it with a sponsored walk in aid of the Big Issue bringing a tear to Eye’s eye on seeing the breathtaking Foundation. Eye high-fived a Friend just after beauty of a country known mostly for war and midnight to celebrate the start of Quaker week. violence for many years now.

16 the Friend, 8 October 2010 Ad pages 8 Oct 5/10/10 8:54 Page 3

Friends&Meetings Josephine (Jo) CLARKE Births A Memorial service for Jo, of Changes of address Llanidloes Meeting, will be held on Skye Barbara GRAYER 9 April, to Peter and Sheila FOX are moving 16 October in the Church hall of Saskia (née Ascui) and Iain Grayer their "earth" from Kendal to St. Idloes Church, Llanidloes, from (Ackworth OS and FAUIS). A sister 22 Briar Bank, Cockermouth 3-5pm. Tea provided by local for Kyle. Box 61256, Pierre van CA13 9DN. Friends. Enquiries: 01865 557807 or Ryneveld 0045, South Africa. [email protected] Corrected entry. Jeffery SMITH of North-East Thames Area Meeting to: Deaths R Anne GRANT A Memorial 2 Robins Nest, Church Street, Alton, Meeting to celebrate Anne’s life will Hampshire GU34 2LT. be held in South Belfast Friends Barbara ANDERSON (formerly Meeting House, 22 Marlborough Gaster, née Edge) 29 September. Park North, Belfast BT9 6HJ at Diary Peacefully at home. Mother of 2.30pm Sunday 24 October. Contact David, Rachel and Ben. Aged 87. [email protected] AGED 18-30 (ISH?) Young Friends Funeral Meeting: St. Idloes Church Tel. 028 9058 5892. General Meeting invites you to Hall, Llanidloes, 11am 11 October. join us from the 22-23 October in Donations: Hafren Hospice, Alan G PHILLIPS A Memorial Liverpool. Info 0121 472 1998. Newtown, Powys. Enquiries: Meeting for Worship will be held at www.yfgm.quaker.org.uk [email protected] Wandsworth Quaker Meeting House, 59 Wandsworth High Street, BUNHILL FIELDS FRIENDS Jill KENNER 16 September. Widow London SW18 2PT at 2.30pm on MEETING HOUSE Quaker Court, of George, mother of Charmian and Saturday 16 October. Enquiries 020 Banner Street, London EC1, Bridget, and grandmother of Dario. 7228 1462 or wandsworthquakers@ Wednesday 20 October and the Member of St Albans Meeting. gmail.com third Wednesday of every month, Aged 82. 12.45 - 1.15pm Meeting for Worship Keep in touch... put all your followed by a light shared lunch. Alison Mowbray (Biddy) TALBOT family notices in the Friend! (née Thompson) 21 September, BEST PRACTICE IN UNCERTAIN peacefully at Rush Court Nursing TIMES How do Quakers work in Home. Widow of Clifford, mother Notices on this page the new era? Quakers and Business of Susan, Richard and Martin. Friends & Meetings notices should Day Conference. Key Note Speaker Grandmother of Fraser, Quentin, preferably be prepaid. Personal Gillian Tett, Financial Times. Russell and Ross. Member of entries (births, marriages, deaths, 14 November, Friends House. anniversaries, changes of address, Reading Meeting. Aged 96. etc.) £16.85 incl. vat. Meeting Contact Alan on 07530231722 or and charity notices (changes of www.qandb.org Theo J TULLEY 29 September, clerk, new wardens, alterations to unexpectedly at home. Aged 92. meeting, diary, etc.) £14.34 zero GETTING TO NEW LIGHT Memorial Meeting for Worship at rated for vat. Max. 35 words. 3 From Quakers and Business, 1-day Hull Quaker Meeting, Bean Street, Diary or Meeting up entries £39 coaching skills training for owners (£33.18); 6 entries £66 (£56.16). Anlaby Road, Hull HU3 2PR, and managers. 5pm-5pm 2-3 Nov. Add £1.70 for a copy of the issue Charney Manor, Oxfordshire. 12 noon Wednesday 13 October. with your notice. Cheques payable Family flowers. Donations: Dove to The Friend. Accommodation and tuition: Q&B House Hospice, Hull. Members £165, Non members Entries are accepted at the editor’s £190. Book now at www.qandb.org discretion in a standard house style. A gentle discipline will be Memorial meetings exerted to maintain a simplicity of QUAKER SOUTH ASIA INTEREST style and wording which excludes GROUP. Annual Gathering Mary BOYD A Memorial Meeting terms of endearment and words Saturday 23 October, 10am-4pm, for Mary will be held at Westminster of tribute. Deadline usually Leeds. 2-3 Visiting Speakers. All Meeting House, 52 St. Martins Lane, Monday morning. welcome. No charge. Enquiries: London WC2N 4EA at 2.30pm The Friend, 54a Main Street, Stephen Petter 0117 972 8054. Sunday 24 October. Friends with Cononley, Keighley BD20 8LL And/or join us by emailing: queries may contact Keith Gibson Tel: 01535 630230. QSAIG_Discussion-subscribe 01737 774104. [email protected] Email: [email protected] @yahoogroups.co.uk

the Friend, 8 October 2010 17 Ad pages 8 Oct 5/10/10 8:54 Page 4

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18 the Friend, 8 October 2010 Ad pages 8 Oct 5/10/10 8:54 Page 5

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the Friend, 8 October 2010 19 Ad pages 8 Oct 5/10/10 8:54 Page 6 vol ADVERTISEMENT DEPT EDITORIAL 168 54a Main Street 173 Euston Road Cononley London NW1 2BJ Keighley BD20 8LL T 020 7663 1010 No

T 01535 630 230 F 020 7663 11-82 41 E [email protected] the Friend E [email protected] JUST THIS DAY Our world is busy and in the turmoil we forget we all share the same space. Families, schools, communities and countries live with conflict, poverty and disease. How can we make a difference? Stop: For Just One Day – Wednesday 24th November 2010 Join us at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London. 10am Revd. Holtam leads a half hour meditation Teachers, 11.30am Women of Spirit speak about the importance of silence in their daily practice introduce stillness 7pm Candlelit performance of Sir John Tavener’s latest work, Towards Silence to your school. See full details at: www.JustThisDay.org

Britain Yearly Meeting Recording Clerk Based at Friends House, Euston, London

The Recording Clerk leads the senior management team which supports and delivers the centrally managed work of Britain Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). The Recording Clerk also provides support to the Yearly Meeting, its Trustees, Meeting for Sufferings and their committees. Britain Yearly Meeting employs about 112 staff centrally and 12 staff overseas. It spends around £9m annually and provides a range of programmes to support the life of local meetings, and strengthen Quaker witness at home and abroad, including ground-breaking work on social justice and peace issues. Applicants should have at least 5 years experience as a senior manager, a grounding in the practice of Quaker faith and in the Firbank Housing principles at its heart, and be able to work flexibly. The post requires Society Ltd a significant weekend commitment. It is a genuine occupational requirement that the Recording Clerk is Welwyn Garden City in membership of the Religious Society of Friends. www.firbankhousing.org.uk For further information, including a full job description, We offer rented accommodation person specification and details on how to apply, please visit for the active elderly in 16 flats www.quaker.org.uk/jobs and bungalows in very attractive Email [email protected] or settings adjacent to the Friends Telephone (+44) 0207 663 1161 Meeting House. A one bedroom Helen Griffith, RCO, Friends House, 173 Euston Rd, London NW1 2BJ flat is currently available. Closing date for applications: Thursday 4 November 2010. Further information from Interviews will be held on 25 and 26 November 2010. Pam Harvey 20 The Old Drive We are keen to make this vacancy widely known, so please draw it Welwyn Garden City AL8 6TB to the attention of Friends with the skills and qualities we are seeking. [email protected] Registered Charity No. 1127633. Tel: 01707 322339.