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My Love Of Letter-Writing I’ve had a love-affair with letter writing most of my life. It began when I was 11 years old. My teacher asked the whole class to open their atlases at random, close their eyes and make a small pencil mark on the page, then write to the Mayor of the nearest town and ask for someone there of our own age who would be happy to be a penfriend. Before long Martha and I began our friendship. That was over 60 years ago and we are still writing. We’re continually finding out about how similar, and different, life is on opposite sides of ‘The Pond’ as well as sharing recipes, favourite authors and just about anything and everything (not a good idea to mention Trump though!). It’s been fascinating writing to the two boys whom I’ve sponsored through World Vision – at first I knew very little about their country, Mozambique, but from their letters I receive I now know much more – and I hope they’re learning a little about life in the UK from me, too. I may never meet Abel and Joao, but I cherish their messages and their drawings and it’s wonderful knowing that, although we’re thousands of miles apart, we care about each other. I’ve also found it very humbling being involved with Amnesty International – they welcome people who are prepared to write to prisoners, offering support and comfort. Back in the mid ‘80s, I couldn’t stop thinking about the plight of the Beirut hostages so I wrote to them all, not knowing if my letters would ever reach them but, amazingly, I had a wonderful reply from John McCarthy which I treasure. I’ve also written to Archbishop John Sentamu on several occasions – he always sends a gracious response though, regrettably but quite understandably, he declined our invitation to write an article for Impact due to his heavy workload. Recently I’ve become an avid supporter of www.change.org, a website challenging injustice. Writing letters is a part of being able to speak out – they say that “the pen is mightier than the sword” and that certainly appears to be the case. It’s very humbling and, when the outcome is a positive one, it’s heart-warming knowing that, in a small way, you have helped someone. Years ago, my car broke down on a wet, windy night on the A38. The lovely AA man who came to my rescue not only fixed the problem but followed me for some distance to make sure I was safe. I wrote to the AA’s Head Office to extol the virtues of this unknown “guardian angel” and later heard that, as a result, he was awarded a commendation – so I had returned the favour and was I “chuffed”! I may be a dinosaur in this technological age and I’m aware that emails and texts are quick and easy, but they can also be deleted at the touch of a button and maybe lost for ever. The response I have from authors who’ve moved me, actors whose performances I’ve admired, programme makers who’ve inspired me, not to mention correspondence shared world-wide with many friends, show they all genuinely appreciate letters. It’s proof that letter-writing is something which brings tangible and lasting pleasure to writer and recipient alike as letters can be read, stored and re-read time and time again. Let’s hope that we dinosaurs never become extinct! Chris Laude St Chad’s Church, Linden Avenue, Woodseats Church Office: Linden Avenue, Sheffield S8 0GA Tel: (0114) 274 5086 Page 22 email: office@stchads.org website: www.stchads.org
Services during February & March <strong>2017</strong> Holy Communion: Sun 5th Feb 11.00am Sun 12th Feb 11.00am Sun 26th 11.00am Ash Wednesday 1st March 7pm Sunday 5th March11.00am Sun 12th March 10.30 am Sunday 26th March 11.00am Evensong ( third Sunday): Sunday 19th February 3pm Sunday 19th March 3pm All Welcome Our Services are based on the Book of Common Prayer & Refreshments are served afterwards View of the Chapel & Tower in Spring Beauchief Abbey, Beauchief Abbey Lane S8 7BD Lent Lectures <strong>2017</strong> Led by Revd Professor John Rogerson “The Poet Prophets of the Old Testament” Wed 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th March 7pm Wed 5th April 7pm see website for full details email info@beauchiefabbey.org.uk www.beauchiefabbey.org.uk Are you looking for a room to hold your party or meeting? St Chad’s Church has two rooms available for hire at 56 Abbey Lane Call 0114 274 5086 for details St Chad’s Church, Linden Avenue, Woodseats Church Offi ce: Linden Avenue, Sheffi eld S8 0GA Tel: (0114) 274 5086 Page 23 email: offi ce@stchads.org website: www.stchads.org
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