Saints and Sailors

Pam Rhodes

Description

'My work takes me all over the world but travelling with fellow pilgrims on a Christian cruise like this is a very special and inspirational experience. This book captures the characters and their journey perfectly, with sensitivity and great fun!' Rhydian Roberts, X-FactorThree groups of people come together for a more-or-less godly cruise around the British Isles: to Lindisfarne, the Loch Ness Monster Museum, Iona and Mull, Dublin and the Scilly Isles.There are familiar faces from St Stephens, Dunbridge; some new folk from Neil's new parish in Derbyshire; and the slightly long-suffering crew, not least her skipper.A cruise is a great place to make new friends, with leisure for decent conversations. It can also be an awkward, confined space with those you would really rather avoid. Some of the party are facing tough decisions - not least of which, whether to say 'yes' - and some tensions just cannot be left on land.This book is a delight: full of compassion, humour, and Pam's acute observations.

Informations

• Publié par: Lion Hudson
• Date de parution: 15 octobre 2015
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781782641575
• Langue: English

Extrait

SAINTS AND SAILORS
By the same author
With Hymns and Hearts and Voices
Fisher of Men
Casting the Net
If You Follow Me
The Dunbridge Chronicles
BOOK 4
S AINTS AND S AILORS
Pam Rhodes
Text copyright 2015 Pam Rhodes This edition copyright 2015 Lion Hudson
The right of Pam Rhodes to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Published by Lion Fiction an imprint of Lion Hudson plc Wilkinson House, Jordan Hill Road Oxford OX2 8DR, England www.lionhudson.com/fiction
ISBN 978 1 78264 156 8 e-ISBN 978 1 78264 157 5
Acknowledgments Extract p. 72 taken from the song Holy Ground by Dave Bilbrough, copyright 1997 Thankyou Music. Adm. by Capitol CMG Publishing worldwide excl. UK & Europe, admin by Integrity Music, part of the David C Cook family, [e-mail]. Extract pp. 141-142 taken from Make me a channel of your peace , Prayer of St Francis (80478). Dedicated to Mrs Frances Tracy. 1967, OCP, 5536 NE Hassalo, Portland, OR 97213. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Agent: Lili Panagi, Panmedia (www.panmediauk.co.uk)
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Cover image: Lion Hudson
For pilgrims everywhere - blessings on you wherever your journey takes you
A CKNOWLEDGMENTS

There are so many people without whose help and encouragement this book would have been impossible to write. Heartfelt thanks to you all!
CHRIS GIDNEY of Christian-cruises.co.uk - I have taken part in several of their Christian cruises now, and have always found it the most wonderful experience. Looking forward to travelling the high seas with them again soon.
CRUISE AND MARITIME and SAGA cruise lines, both of whom have had the vision to encourage Christian cruises on board their ships.
CAPTAIN DAVID WARDEN-OWEN, now retired captain of some of the world s most exclusive cruise ships - the Christian who first had the vision for these cruises.
RHYDIAN ROBERTS - my favourite singing star, a Christian in the challenging world of entertainment who is a truly lovely man. His mum is delightful too.
REVEREND ERNIE REA - formerly Head of Religious Broadcasting for the BBC and therefore my boss on Songs of Praise - now an inspiring lecturer.
THE RIGHT REVEREND GEORGE CAREY, former Archbishop of Canterbury - has led the ministerial team on several of the Christian cruises I ve taken part in. He and his wife Eileen are not just modest and inspiring, but terrific company.
REVEREND ROSEMARY TAYLOR - friend, story-sharer and chaplain on Christian cruises.
REVEREND ANDREW McLELLAN, former Moderator of The Church of Scotland, and his wife IRENE - both inspirational fellow pilgrims.
DR ANNA ZAHORSKI - my friend, who is always so supportive and full of good ideas.
TONY PARKINS - Cruise Director for Cruise and Maritime. Tony was incredibly helpful, not just with the book s Christian programme on board, but ensuring my description of ship life was as accurate as possible.
TERRY FEARNLEY - retired submariner who provided great ideas and information that helped create the character of Brig Young.
SIMON AUSTIN - on-board entertainer who was very encouraging - and talented!
REVEREND NIGEL BENNETT and his wife DELIA - Nigel shared his story with me during a couple of on-board Songs of Praise . A truly warm-hearted Christian family, and great travelling companions.
ALISON and BRUCE LANGFORD - fellow pilgrims who have travelled with us on Christian cruises we have taken part in.
LILI PANAGI - my agent and long-time friend.
RICHARD CROW - my husband, toughest proofreader, leader of singing during our events, great dance partner and my favourite shipmate.
W HO S W HO IN D UNBRIDGE

From St Stephen s, Dunbridge, Bedfordshire
Iris Fisher - Reverend Neil Fisher s mother.
Harry Holloway - great-uncle to Claire, Neil s wife. Harry is both friend and neighbour to Iris.
Clifford Davies - former show-business keyboard player, now church organist.
Peter Fellowes - churchwarden.
Val Fellowes - Peter s wife.
Brian Lambert - organist; father of Wendy.
Sylvia Lambert - Brian s wife; church choir leader; mother of Wendy, Neil s former girlfriend.
Julia Dawes - member of both the church choir and the Ladies Guild. Travelling with her mother, Ida , who has dementia.
Barbara and John Curtis - stalwarts of St Stephen s, keen on walking and photography.
Raymond Callaghan - big, friendly man, slightly deaf.
From St Jude s, Burntacre, Derbyshire
Reverend Neil Fisher - came to St Jude s as vicar, having finished his curacy in Dunbridge the previous summer. Husband to Claire; son of Iris Fisher.
Claire Fisher - Neil s wife; mum to seven-year-old Sam; great-niece of Harry Holloway.
Carole and Garry Swinton - Carole directs the church choir; Garry is Chairman of the parish council.
Arthur Jones - D-Day veteran, travelling with his son Pete and grandson Callum .
Deirdre O Donnell - school teacher at Burntacre School; mum to Brendan; choir member at St Jude s.
Mark Stratton - research scientist; choir member at St Jude s.
Betty, Sheila and Marion - all altos in the choir.
Jill and Rob Grenville - Jill is a soprano in the choir; Rob takes no part in church life.
Ministry team
Bishop Paul Ambrose - Bishop of Bedford, with his wife Margaret .
Reverend Ros Martin - vicar from Worcestershire, assistant to Bishop Paul; organizes the Chaplain s Corner.
Reverend Maurice Brown - Methodist minister from Exeter.
Father Peter and Sister Maureen - from a large parish in Birmingham, with a group of Catholic mothers.
Reverend Ernie Rea - lecturer on board, former head of Religious Broadcasting for the BBC.
Pam Rhodes - presenter of BBC Television s Songs of Praise series, travelling with husband Richard .
Cruise staff and crew members
Captain Stephan Johannson - Scandinavian captain of The Pilgrim.
Ramon Moreno - Cruise Director, in charge of the ship s programme.
Jane Thurlow - Assistant Cruise Director.
Brad Osbourn - on-board doctor, travelling with his wife Joanne .
Andrew Bragnall - keyboard player in the cocktail bar, on his first professional contract.
Maureen and Bill Bragnall - Andrew s mum and dad.
Sharon - head dancer.
Michael - lead singer.
Other passengers on board
Rhydian Roberts - international singing star.
Bernie Gordon - Rhydian s agent.
Brig Young - former submariner, travelling with his wife Daisy .
Nigel, Brian, Margaret and Fiona - all interviewed during the on-board Songs of Praise event.
CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1: DUNBRIDGE AND BURNTACRE

CHAPTER 2: TILBURY

CHAPTER 3: BERWICK-UPON-TWEED

CHAPTER 4: KIRKWALL, ORKNEY

CHAPTER 5: TOBERMORY THE ISLE OF MULL

CHAPTER 6: DUBLIN

CHAPTER 7: THE ISLES OF SCILLY

CHAPTER 8: ST PETER PORT, GUERNSEY

CHAPTER 9: HONFLEUR

CHAPTER 10: TILBURY

CHAPTER 11: DUNBRIDGE
C HAPTER 1
D UNBRIDGE AND B URNTACRE

Forth in Thy name, O Lord, I go.
Charles Wesley

Will we need wellies?
Probably not. I d take your walking boots, though. Claire answered Neil without looking up from the holdall she was packing.
Umbrella? he asked.
I ve got a small one, and you ve got a hood on your jacket.
Should I take one pair of thick socks, or two?
One.
How many dress shirts?
You ve only got one.
And jumpers?
For heaven s sake! Claire looked at Neil with exasperation. You go and sort out the paperwork and books you need to take with you, and I ll do the rest.
He grinned. That worked, then! I hate packing.
I d never have guessed, she laughed, aiming an odd sock in his direction as he headed for the door. And put the kettle on while you re at it.
Ten minutes later, when Neil returned with two mugs of steaming coffee, the holdalls were neatly packed. Claire tidied away the last bits and pieces before sitting down on the bed next to him, lifting her face for his kiss as he handed her the cup.
I ve just had a call from Mum, he said. She s all ready to go.
Claire chuckled. Iris has had her case packed for about a week.
Peter and Val are picking her and Harry up at eleven. But they reckon it should only take a couple of hours for them to get to Tilbury Docks. It s so much further from here - I ve no idea how long it ll take us to battle our way down the M1 and around the M25 to get there.
It ll be nice to see the St Stephen s crowd again, said Claire, taking a sip of coffee. Even nicer to be on holiday with them. This was a great idea, to get some of your old parish and your new one to meet up. And cruising round Britain sounds brilliant!
I m not sure how much of a holiday it s going to be for me, mused Neil. I m thrilled that they asked me to be one of the Christian team on board, of course, but I d feel better if I had a clearer idea of what it involves.
That s why you ve got all those books on Celtic saints taking up space in our bags, she teased. I d be squeezing in a couple of extra pairs of shoes if it weren t for them.
Well, I wouldn t need so many reference books if I knew for sure that the internet always works reliably on a cruise ship. Do you think it does when you re out in the middle of the ocean?
Oh, I should think so
Bishop Paul ll know what he s doing, of course, and it s flattering that he asked me to help with the ministry side of things. After all, I was just a curate in Dunbridge for the three years he was my bishop, and that was only nine months ago. I ve still got a lot to learn. I hope I don t let him down.
Claire smiled. Not many curates find themselves running a busy parish all by themselves when they ve hardly been ordained a year. Bishop Paul knows how much you took on when the rector left, and how