Tenby Visually Impaired People Group

The Catholic Church Hall, Tenby, was the venue for the February meeting of the Tenby Visually Impaired People Group last Tuesday.

Although numbers were limited, everyone enjoyed a most interesting talk by Joan Thomas from Trecwn about her hobby of metal detecting and the unusual things she had found over the years.

Joan also had many stories to tell, and she was warmly thanked by project worker, Rebecca Thomas.

Lucky raffle winners this month were Margaret Walker and Eva Rich. Saundersfoot Rotary Club and the PBS minibus then took everyone home.

The next meeting will be on March 10 when any visually impaired person in the area is welcome to join the group by contacting the secretary, Margaret Walker, on 843464.

Tenby Historical Society

At the annual general meeting last month, those present approved the accounts, re-elected the committee and agreed with a continuation of the kind of programme that the society has run for the last few years.

Following the business, Neil Westerman, honorary curator of Tenby Museum, gave an update on the 'Tenby Remembers' project by showing and quoting from a series of letters from servicemen dating from 1914 to 1918. As the war progressed, the initially bright and optimistic accounts became bleaker and darker.

The next meeting of the society will receive a talk from Linda and Stuart Asman on some of the innovative ways in which they have been recording and exhibiting local history in Pembroke and Monkston. It will be entitled: Capturing the Past in Digital Stories and take place on Tuesday, February 24, at Tenby Bowling Club, Sutton Street. All are welcome. Subscriptions (£8 annually) will become due on April 1, but any new member joining between now and the end of March will be enrolled for the next membership year as well as for the balance of this.

INNER WHEEL CLUB OF TENBY

The Inner Wheel Club of Tenby met at the Giltar on Monday, February 9, for a buffet lunch and to welcome Catrin Rowlands, district chairman, to Tenby.

Catrin said what a pleasure it was to come to Tenby - she had happy memories of visits here and it was a delight to return on such a beautiful day and to spend time with another club in District 15.

Catrin went on to describe how she saw Inner Wheel, comparing it with recipes which began with very little, but once everything was mixed together, turned into an amazing meal.

Inner Wheel offered much, both to individual club members and to the community at large, and it was up to each of us to go out and tell people what we do and to encourage new members to join us.

She then went on to talk about her charity for the year, You-CanProductions. It is a performing and creative arts co-operative for blind and partially-sighted children, young people and their friends. Through their work, they help to develop confidence and communication skills, to help individuals believe in themselves, showing them that they are a valued part of the community, not cut off because of their disability.

President Margaret presented her with a £100 cheque for the charity. She thanked the club for this and for their hospitality.

During the business meeting, president Margaret gave congratulations to Boo and Tony Markes on the occasion of their 60th wedding anniversary.

Next month, a group will be going to the Torch Theatre to see Swan Lake beamed in directly from Covent Garden. Next fundraising event is the annual fork lunch at the Fourcroft, which will be on Wednesday, March 18. The meal will cost £13 and tickets are now available from members.

At the end of the meeting, and just before tea, guests from Wales Air Ambulance arrived, Tony Key, OBE and Margery Clarke. The club presented them with a cheque for £600 which was raised at the fish and chip supper at the Mermaid in January. Tony Key said that the club's support for the charity was greatly appreciated and the money would be put to good use.

Next business meeting, still in the afternoon, will be at the Giltar on Monday, March 9, at 2.30 pm.

STEPS2HEALTH WALK

It may have been St. Valentine's Day, but the 38 Steps2Health walkers failed to spot any red roses or flirting doves on their Saturday morning walk. Not that such omissions detracted from the enjoyment of a local walk on what was almost a balmy spring morning (writes B.S.).

Two new walkers joined the group and it was good to welcome the grandchildren of Janice and Brian.

Taking a very roundabout route to the Croft, the walkers wended their way through Augustus Place via White Lion Street to the Norton and down St. Johns Hill. Then through Merlins Gardens to access the Croft via Gas Lane.

It was then the parting of the ways as the short walk, with Val, Erica, Barbara and Brian, kept to the high road to reach Church House by weaving in and out of the town streets to include views of sparkling sea from the Paragon and Esplanade.

The longer walk, led by Janice with Peter as back-up, went along the North Walk to take in the harbour and Castle Hill, before joining the well patronised coffee morning at Church House in aid of Breast Surgery Wales.

Tomorrow (Saturday), meet Penally station car park 10.30 am. The Silcox 349 leaves Tenby 10.05. The walk back to Tenby will finish at Church House, where the coffee morning will be in aid of Plant Dewi.

STEPS2HEALTH WALK

It may have been St. Valentine's Day, but the 38 Steps2Health walkers failed to spot any red roses or flirting doves on their Saturday morning walk. Not that such omissions detracted from the enjoyment of a local walk on what was almost a balmy spring morning (writes B.S.).

Two new walkers joined the group and it was good to welcome the grandchildren of Janice and Brian.

Taking a very roundabout route to the Croft, the walkers wended their way through Augustus Place via White Lion Street to the Norton and down St. Johns Hill. Then through Merlins Gardens to access the Croft via Gas Lane.

It was then the parting of the ways as the short walk, with Val, Erica, Barbara and Brian, kept to the high road to reach Church House by weaving in and out of the town streets to include views of sparkling sea from the Paragon and Esplanade.

The longer walk, led by Janice with Peter as back-up, went along the North Walk to take in the harbour and Castle Hill, before joining the well patronised coffee morning at Church House in aid of Breast Surgery Wales.

Tomorrow (Saturday), meet Penally station car park 10.30 am. The Silcox 349 leaves Tenby 10.05. The walk back to Tenby will finish at Church House, where the coffee morning will be in aid of Plant Dewi.

TENBY

FRIENDSHIP CLUB

On Wednesday, February 11, 24 members joined the Scout and Guide lunch at Giltar Hotel, and thoroughly enjoyed their meal. Two members also won prizes in the raffle draw. The club is always pleased to support the Scouts and Guides.

After half-term holiday, the club recommences on Wednesday, February 25, with not only the usual 'Meet and Greet' with afternoon tea provided by members, but also the annual general meeting as the club has too many speakers to fit it in at a meeting on its own! Anyone who has booked to go to Waves, please bring your deposit.

ST. JOHNS CHURCH

On Sunday, the choir opened the service with 'Here is a place'. Liz welcomed Rev. Chris Tolley and everyone in the congregation. Bron read from Corinthians 2 v4-26, and Mark 9 v2-9.

Chris said his address was about a story in the Gospel that seems unbelievable. Suzanne read excerpts from a story by Chester Cath throughout the address, and said a patch of ground can be a patch of heaven, like Jacob stumbled on when he was most vulnerable.

Chris continued: "When we encounter something we don't know, we generally throw it away, like the voice of God speaking to us. Our faith makes us yearn to see God, to entertain Angels, and look for visions that are touched by spirit."

Suzanne said the Mountain of God had sheep walking all over it. Nothing strange, just a patch of ground like any other, then a flicker of flame comes and things change. We need, believes Chris, to think about our own life's holy moments, and not spend too much time thinking about Revelations.

We can't tell how special moments come to pass, but they are real and come when we put them in our way. We have to take a risk, said Chris, who believes in the historical transfiguration story. You have to read beyond the words, and not ask the wrong questions about it.

Suzanne read, We are astonished by the glory and always there is love. We wrestle with the passage on transfiguration, and then we realise what a remarkable person Jesus is. There are special moments in our lives when we need to see God. Sometimes we meet God in suffering, sometimes in the scenery, and sometimes in church on Sundays.

Do such moments change us? asked Suzanne, and Chris said that too often we keep our blindness. He said "Don't throw away things you haven't understood, but use them for a source of strength in your Christian life.

Suzanne read "The grace of God changes us a little" and Chris concluded, "Let us see if we can change a little today."

At the conclusion of the sermon, the congregation sang 'God moves in mysterious ways', which was written by William Cowper who lived 1731 - 1800!

Notices: This Sunday, the 11 am worship will be taken by Mr. Roger Hart. On Monday, the craft group meets 2 - 4 pm, and on Tuesday, there is Bible study at 7 pm. The usual coffee morning is 10 am - midday on Wednesday. Please buy your £5 tickets as soon as possible for the Chicken or Fish and Chips Nosen Llawen starting at 6 pm on Saturday, February 28. All are welcome - please see Margaret Day.