---

It is a long way to Essex! Even the soon-to-retire Bishop of Chelmsford was impressed at the number of us (over 30) who made the trek to the far side of London. Like some Comic Relief Expedition, two minibuses braved the marauding lorries of the M25 and the scary services stations of Fleet and South Mimms to arrive about 8 minutes before the service. St Chads is a redbrick building , dating from the 1880's (though without the tin roof) and it was full with several hundred people to welcome Martin, Julie, Simon and Charlotte. A Church Warden even gave a brief history of Blandford and Chadwell Heath before concluding "... and now there is you" to Martin. They are obviously expecting great things from him! The Bishop spoke on knowing what to change - what to stop as well as what to start and prayed that Martin would have the wisdom to know the difference. With the Archdeacon a West Ham fan, the Rural Dean and Arsenal fan and the Bishop sharing a support with Martin for Harry Rednap, he should be at home there ... Anyway, it was then on to the hall (they have two more than us at present) and the bun fight ... before the long trip home.