Newbold College Awards Ceremony 2013 - Seventh-day Adventist ...

16newsA garden party – for good causesWhat started as a one-off tribute to her late husband, David, hasbecome a regular fixture as Audrey Balderstone opened up the largegarden he designed for the third year running on 12 May, raising a totalof £1,500 for good causes.David Balderstone, a landscape gardener, did a lot of work forcharity, especially ADRA, and after he died Audrey felt that opening upthe delightful garden he designed at their home near Watford would bea fitting tribute to him. She explains, ‘I feel so fortunate to have thegarden and opening it to raise funds for the Peace Hospice seemed agood idea three years ago, just after David died.’ She relies heavily on ateam of volunteers to help her: ‘I could never do it without the help ofmy family and my fantastic friends. Some of my neighbours help aswell, and it is a good way to get to know people.’Audrey is no stranger to fund-raising, and has organised manyflower festivals at Stanborough Park Church and elsewhere. Sheestimates that around 150 people attended the garden party, includingneighbours, friends from her flower arranging club, family friends andfellow church members. They were greeted by a number of stallsdispersed around the garden, selling items from books and cakes tonearly-new clothes and bric-a-brac.Audrey adds, ‘We served light lunches and afternoon teas, andthose in the kitchen never stopped from noon, when we opened. Thedemand for food was constant!’This year the money raised has been divided between the PeaceHospice and the Stanborough Park Church Development Fund.‘Some years ago at a flower festival we raised enough to equip theStanborough Room at the Hospice, and ever since we have contributedtowards its upkeep,’ Audrey explains.Audrey’s next fund-raising enterprise is a flower festival to be heldat Stanborough Park during the weekend of 13-15 September. It willfeature around forty floral designs depicting well-known hymns. Thosetaking part will include members of NAFAS (The National Association ofFlower Arrangement Societies), church members and flower arrangersfrom other churches.On Sunday evening the festival will conclude with a specialprogramme entitled ‘Songs of Praise and Joy’, led by Valerie Fidelia,who grew up at Stanborough Park Church and is now living inretirement in Cyprus. The proceeds will be divided between theKeech Cottage Hospice for Children in Luton and the ChurchDevelopment Fund.JUNE COOMBS, STANBOROUGH PARK CHURCHChurch supportscancer charitiesA lively auction at the new premisesfor Watford Town AdventistChurch, Brixton Road, Watford,helped to raise over £1,300 for aTeenage Cancer Trust and theWatford Peace Hospice onSunday, 9 June.Attended by Watford’s mayor,Dorothy Thornhill, the auctionwas part of the ‘Lily Rose Cancer Awareness Day’: an event organisedby the church’s Women’s Ministries and Health departments toincrease awareness and raise support for a disease that affects onein three people in the UK.The Mayor’s response was most encouraging: ‘In its new premiseshere, the church is definitely doing things that benefit the community;it’s about the cause and it’s about community. I think that this is goingto be a place where God’s work is alive and well and stretches far outinto Watford. Today is a really good start, and of course it’s being doneby the women: the women of Watford!’After auctioning off intricately decorated cakes, luxurious coats andspecial vouchers for family trips and grooming sessions, all donated bylocal businesses, everyone was able to enjoy a feast prepared by thechurch.An afternoon programme, led by BUC Health Ministries director,Sharon Platt-McDonald, focused mainly on breast cancer, which is themost common form of cancer. Dr Sakar Vas, a consultant surgeon atWatford General Hospital, gave a presentation on how to look forsymptoms and how doctors check for the occurrence of cancerouscells. Jane Gontier from the Peace Hospice and Carolyn Mwaniki fromthe Teenage Cancer Trust spoke of how the funds raised will helppeople who are suffering.‘We’ve lost a lot of our women to cancer,’ explained Androulla Best,team leader of those organising the event. ‘So we named the day afterthe favourite flowers of two women from our church that we’ve lost inrecent years. I think the event allowed the community to see that we area religious body and we share the same concerns in everyday healthmatters. Cancer has no boundaries – it affects everybody.’KATIE RAMHARACKSINGHPoliceconstables athealth expoOn Sunday, 2 June, theBulwell church ran asuccessful health expo inthe market square between11am and 5pm. It was rununder the guidance of medicalprofessionals, some fromthe NHS, well supported bynon-medical volunteers whohad been CRB checked forhealth and safety.These volunteers also received some training on the principles ofa healthy lifestyle and the way they could be of support to the healthprofessionals during the expo.The visitors enjoyed the expo – finding it hard to believe that theservice was totally free. Two community police constables, Natalie Elliotand Jason Sergeant, were invited to the expo by the church childrenand they were very impressed by what they saw. So was the BulwellNeighbourhood Policing inspector, Andrew Goodall, who encouraged‘all members of the local community to come forward and engage withthe team at Bulwell so that together we can improve the quality of life inour community.’It is clear that such expos fit in well with the Government’s initiativesfor the improvement of community health. The eight main factors ofthe programme are nutrition, exercise, water, sun, temperance, air, restand trust in God. Constable Sergeant went through the eight stationsand provided very positive feedback afterwards.There are a variety of excellent follow-up programmes that can berun in support of a health expo, including: smoking cessation, drugeducation and prevention, stress control, and so on. Why not makecontact with the NEC Health Ministries department for more detailsabout how your church can get involved – 0115 9606312/07791230043. GRACE WALSH, HEALTH MINISTRIES DIRECTORAdventist rescuespensioner fromblaze‘I can do all things through Christwho strengthens me’ (Philippians4:13, NKJV) is the fittingsignature on the end of everyemail from the Squire familyin Lincoln. That was all themotivation Horace Squireneeded when he found himselffirst on the scene at a house fireon Canon Street, Lincoln, lateafternoon on Monday 3 June.A police community support officer, he immediately crawled underthick, black smoke to drag a pensioner out of his blazing flat momentsbefore the fire blew out a window. ‘At the time you don’t really thinkof the danger,’ he told the Lincolnshire Echo. ‘You are thinking abouthelping and it is my job to help people.’Inspector Pat Coates of Lincolnshire Police said: ‘We are extremelyproud of Horace’s actions. His bravery prevented the serious injury ofa member of the public and is testament to his professionalism anddedication.’Horace is a member of the Nottingham Central church, where he isknown as a man who will always step in and lend a hand. According toPastor Curtis Murphy, Horace is a very caring person who ‘doesn’treally think about himself. He thinks of others first.’Bravery appears to be part of the Squire family tradition. In 2012his son, Leon Squire, carried the Olympic flame in recognition ofovercoming difficulties in his own life.VICTOR HULBERTIndependent Education for children aged 3-11• Do you want the best possible Christianeducation for your child, where Adventistvalues, standards and principles are at theheart of the learning experience?• We believe that each child is unique, and ourstaff are dedicated to helping all studentsachieve their full potential.We would welcome the opportunity to show you what ourvibrant school has to offer you and your child.What Ofsted says:‘Behaviour is outstanding and the Christian ethos givespupils a strong sense of right and wrong.’‘The school is an inclusive community in which pupils feelhappy and well cared for.’‘Pupils have an excellent attitude to learning, and are welladjusted,respectful individuals who are keen to give of theirbest.’For further details, contact us at:1 Dudley Road, Grantham,Lincolnshire, NG31 9AA01476 400184www.dudleyhouseschool.co.uk17