On Saturday 24th September our Harvest celebrations began with our annual supper. This year’s guests dined on delicious homemade beef stew served with crusty bread, followed by trifle and cheese and biscuits. With two kinds of pasta dish and traffic light jelly available for children, everyone was happy.
As is our tradition, each course was interspersed with quality drama from the Homespun Players. This year’s comedy featured a be-shorted vicar as Just William, and several upstanding church members as his infamous Outlaws. And, of course, in world where adults played children, children played adults.
The story was that in order to raise money for the church roof appeal, William auctioned off ‘A Day with the Outlaws’. When the day came for the winner to take up their prize, young Joe appeared. Much to the Outlaws’ chagrin, he triumphed in every activity he tried, from shooting pine cones to climbing trees. Little did the boys know, but Joe was really heiress Lady Josephine in disguise! Lady Josephine had a wonderful time – her day with the Outlaws made a great change from the humdrum girly activities she was normally subjected to. In return for “THE BEST DAY EVER”, she gave William a cheque for £250,000 to present to his vicar in aid of the roof fund!
Our evening of hi-jinks, we’re delighted to announce, raised £377 for the Diocesan Harvest Appeal. This money will go directly to our link dioceses in West Africa. The morning after the Supper we held our Harvest Festival in church; the retiring collection also went to this worthy cause.
Now, we can’t promise you Just William, but we CAN promise you a real Auction of Promises in aid of Pagham Church Roof Appeal next year on 28th April. Put the date in your diaries for now, and look out for more info nearer the time.
Gallery by Bruce Evans
Gallery by Brian Townson
