Rose Sunday at St Paul’s this year was a memorable occasion. The church was packed. Friends from Sarratt and Chipperfield had gathered to remember Malcolm and to welcome his wife, Brenda, back to Chipperfield. Brenda had agreed to plant a rose – appropriately named Breath of Life – in the churchyard of St Paul’s on their behalf in memory of Malcolm.
The service was led by the Rev Hitesh Dodhia, a Deputy Governor of Wormwood Scrubs, one of the clergy who kindly support our churches during the interregnum. The Rev Peter Hart, highly regarded in both parishes, came back from his retirement in Stamford to preach. He spoke movingly of his friend and colleague telling of the three principles of his ministry, Prayer, Proclamation and Pastoral Care, describing each in turn and recommending their adoption by us all. Brian Hill, Minister of the Baptist Church, Sarratt, was next. At Brenda’s request, Brian read the piece about Malcolm’s history written by her family at the funeral in March. At the end of the service, the congregation followed the clergy and choir to a prepared flower bed near the front door of the church, where Brenda planted the rose. We shall pass this rose as we go to church each Sunday and will remember with sadness this saintly man who made such an impact on us all. He truly was the ‘Breath of Life’.
(Contact with the family will be kept through our connection with the Tiger Club in Kampala run by Malcolm and Brenda’s son, Dr Andy Williams. The club does vital work rescuing and supporting street children in the area.)
Muriel Samworth

BON APPƒTIT!
A new cookery book entitled Village Fayre has been compiled in aid of the Friends of Holy Cross Church, Sarratt, and is being sold to help raise funds for the care and preservation of the church. Village Fayre takes its reader through mouth-watering recipes for soups and starters; then on to meat, poultry and seafood; salads, snacks and vegetarian dishes; puddings and tea-time; ending with splendid ideas for home made wine. The book contains over 150 recipes and a thoughtful touch is that the pages are bound so that it opens flat and the type is bold and easy to read. Village Fayre costs £9.50 and can be obtained from The Chipperfield Larder. Alternatively send a cheque for £12 (to include postage and packing) made payable to: “The Friends of Holy Cross Church, Sarratt”,
c/o Pear Tree Cottage, The Green, Sarratt WD3 6BL.