The mild weather this winter enabled larger attendances at services this Christmas. The Festival of Lessons and Carols attracted 152 people, 35 up on last year. I thought the service had a better balance this year, with the poems supplementing the readings. The Crib Service on Christmas Eve was very well supported, 86 adults and 36 children, tripling last year's attendance. All the hard work in preparing the church is fully rewarded when St Marks is so full of excited youngsters (of any age!). Many thanks to everyone who helped at such a busy time. An early appearance from Santa in the hall afterwards certainly raised expectations! Christmas morning brought 60 worshippers to All Saints which was beautifully prepared for the service followed by mulled wine and mince pies afterwards.

Work at All Saints. The brambles in the northeast corner of the churchyard have been cut down in preparation for the roots to be grubbed out prior to seeding in the spring. 15 yews have been purchased to replace the mainly deciduous hedge adjacent to the Millennium gate. The original hedge, which had seen better days, was removed 12 months ago and suppressant fabric laid in readiness for replanting. The new yew hedge will be maintained just above the height of the interlinked wire fence and with the reshaping of the yew avenue already completed should give a fresh, unified look when approaching the church. The recent high winds caused some damage to the churchyard hedge and a tree, which have been made safe and will be replanted in due course.

Statistics for Mission - One detail that may be of interest is that average church attendance on a normal (ie. non festival) Sunday for 2011 is 101 (up from 97) for adults and 5 (up from 4) for children.

Jane Norris has stood down from the editorship of the parish magazine after 10 years dedicated service. It has been a complex and demanding role which also included the sponsored advertisements; additionally she was our conduit to the local media for festival services and events. Many thanks for your hard work Jane. If you would like to take on the editorship, placing your stamp on this link between the church and the parish please speak to the rector or churchwardens.

This year will be one of achievement, anniversary and celebration with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympic Games. In West Parley detailed plans are already being formulated for the Diamond Jubilee. As always there are many tasks to be done, so if you are available on Monday 4th June to assist in the parish fete please speak to Garnet Lambert. Lottery funding has helped our athletes achieve success in the Olympic Games in recent times. Olympic success raises our spirit and unifies the nation. It was a surprise therefore that the Canadians received so much criticism in the last Winter Olympics for rallying to support their athletes. Rather odd don't you think? In our case we have a great depth of talent in cycling, rowing and sailing; and whilst success is never guaranteed the example medal winners set to our up and coming youngsters should be encouraged by us all. This year also is a year of Remembrance which in itself sets standards of courage and endeavour against overwhelming odds. Two centenaries remind us of our frailties. This March the National Antarctic Expedition led by Capt. Robert Falconer Scott perished 11 miles from safety. In April the sinking of RMS Titanic 600 miles off Cape Race led to wholesale changes in maritime safety. Much nearer to home, the Lynmouth disaster 60 years ago. In these tragedies the best of Christian resolve and sacrifice is revealed.

Also 60 years ago on a damp, foggy morning I stood beside the main London - West Country railway line to pay respect to the late King George VI, en-route to Frogmore. A highly polished locomotive pulling three carriages emerged from the mist. It was eerily quiet for such a large, powerful engine and as it passed slowly by I noticed that all the windows were covered by black roller blinds. Although I understood why I was there, the protocol was lost on a nine year old schoolboy. Much has changed since February 1952; how different from the outpouring of grief that expressed our loss for the much loved Diana, Princess of Wales. And yet some things remain unaltered, the devotion, duty and service that Queen Elizabeth II has dedicated to the nation, and to the church is without parallel in modern times. It was this in mind that I wrote in the November edition that the flower beds at St Marks were to be re-laid as part of the parish celebrations for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee anniversary. It is disappointing to report that these plans, which were at little to no cost to the church, have been abandoned and as a result the funding lost. This should serve as a reminder that all social action must carry the needs of the parish and people with it, by discussion, by example and by incentive; otherwise where procrastination prevails progress falters.