Our first Church Guild meeting after the summer was on 15th October and we started with a swing, performing some of our now well-known seated exercises with perhaps a few tweaks as I had misplaced the original moves. I do, however, think the new ones are better but will we remember them for next time? We had a new member in our midst who joined in with much enthusiasm. After a jolly start this new member was to be our guest speaker. He was none other than our own minister, the Rev. Alan Gibbon. He had brought along his guitar but, more importantly, his trusted companion Dexy who has been writing sterling pieces for us to read in the church magazine. He soon endeared himself to us and I think there were some of us vying for his attention with some success.
The minister, using songs, regaled us with stories of his childhood in Lochee, his family and their origins. We joined in the songs and were entertained by his stories. Alan is very interested in his family tree so he was able to tell us more of his family’s origins in the north of Scotland and how they came to Dundee. Of course the last song had to be, ‘The Road and the Miles tae Dundee’ which we sang with gusto. We finished up, as always, with lovely refreshments and a good blether. We hope Dexy enjoyed himself and will return. Maybe he’ll mention his visit in the church newsletter.
We met up again on the 22nd for some party games such as Musical Hats and some parlour games which were supposed to oil the brains but did they? My favourite was the after-eight game but I fear that not everyone was inclined to join in and just ate their chocolate but some of us gamely persevered to get the chocolate from our forehead to our mouth with, I’m afraid, little success but a lot of laughter. We finished up with a nod to Halloween with a scary story where all joined in the actions. Thanks to Irene for the Halloween decorations and cakes.
After a longer than usual break we met up again on the 12th November when James Lochead gave a talk on ‘The Tartan Pimpernel’. This was the story of Donald Caskie, born on the Isle of Islay in 1902 and who was minister of the Scots Kirk in Paris at the time of the German occupation in Paris. He had several opportunities to flee but instead stayed behind to help establish a network of safe houses and escape routes for allied soldiers and airmen trapped in occupied territory.
He was arrested and sentenced to death and it was only through the intervention of a German pastor that he was saved. After the war, Caskie returned to the Scots Kirk, where he served as minister until 1960. This inspiring story of selfless commitment to others in the face of extreme adversity is the legacy of a truly brave man. Thankyou James for telling his story lest we forget all the brave people we owe so much. We hope James will be back soon with more of his stories.
The AGM is on 26th November where all are welcome to come along and any ideas for future meetings will be much appreciated. After, there will, of course, be cake and a blether.
The Church Christmas Lunch is near and there is a form in the hall to add your name. The cost is £22 for a three course lunch, coffee and tea and fabulous entertainment.
Marguerite
