Tower and Town, May 2015

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Christian Aid

Ian Perryman writes on behalf of the Marlborough Christian Aid Committee, and describes some of the work that goes on. Anyone able to help with collections during the forthcoming Christian Aid Week should contact Ian directly (01672-514550 or ian.perryman@onetel.net)

As I am sure you all know, Christian Aid Week is fast approaching (10th until 16th May), and your local committee will once again be getting into gear organizing the arrangements. As we do this, I think back to earlier times and who was then involved: past chairs have been Peter Hardman in the 70's (later Canon of Salisbury), Jeremy Walsh (later Bishop of Tewkesbury), and, when I joined, the redoubtable Bill Spray.

In more recent times Tricia Cavil and Bryan Castle have led the team, but the format of our endeavours has changed with the times. The blanket house-to-house collections have ceased, with a more targeted method being substituted, and thanks to the closer involvement of Marlborough Churches Together the overall amounts collected have remained similar. In-Church and High Street collections are better received, and better supported, not forgetting the "Hunger Lunch" on Good Friday which is anything but hungry, but a great time for getting together after the Procession of Witness in the High Street.

Another strength in having a local committee "on standby" is that we are able to mount at speed Special Appeals which are usually supported on television by Head Office, for example Ebola and Gaza last year, and Kenya this year. We are strongly supported in materials and speakers by our regional Head Office in Bristol, so thankfully never feel out on a limb!

All is not hard graft - we are happy to enjoy ourselves as we go, and anyone wishing to help will be welcomed with open arms. There are at most four committee meetings a year, with e-mails taking care of everything else. It is an astonishingly well-oiled machine, and very fulfilling, I promise you.

Ian Perryman