Friends picnic between the pillars. Photo: Courtesy of Gordon Blackburn.
Eye - 26 September 2014
From picnics to camping
A pillar-prompted picnic
The restoration of a pair of pillars at a Quaker burial ground in Wales was cause for celebration this summer.
Friends from Meetings in South West Wales held a picnic to mark the completion of work at Sutton Friends’ Burial Ground, near Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire. They met after Meeting for Worship on 27 July and were grateful for a dry, sunny afternoon.
Gordon Blackburn, of Cardigan Meeting, oversaw the work, which involved removing a ‘huge concrete lintel from over the entrance to the inner part of the graveyard and… make good the two wall pillars that had been supporting it’.
The work was done to make the burial ground safe for visitors and was carried out by Des Harries, a stonemason from St David’s.
Sixteen Friends from Milford Haven, Narberth, St David’s, Cardigan and Swansea Meetings attended, joined by local people who were ‘very happy to have this peaceful place close to their village’. The local residents’ association has done much to clear the site over the years, Gordon added.
Camping Quakers
Friends recently found their way to the Forest of Dean for an eventful gathering.
Thirty-five Quaker campers pitched their tents in the Gloucestershire woodlands for a week in August.
Anna Edelsten described an unlucky start: ‘Before all the units had arrived, Friends were called upon to support a pair in distress, following a car accident near to the site. The travellers were transported to hospital, happily to be discharged at midnight with minor injuries. In the meantime, their camping gear was retrieved and tent set up, ready to welcome them in the small hours.’
Anna told Eye of the events that followed: ‘Perhaps because of this inauspicious start, camp became a celebration of community and friendship. It was reassuring to know that items lost or forgotten would be willingly offered by Friends…
‘Morning worship offered the opportunity to gather together and experience worship in the outdoors… Group excursions included trips to the local lido and craft centre, the hire of canoes for a half day adventure down the river Wye, numerous walks and cycling. Individual units also enjoyed a variety of solo activities; campers are welcome to dip in and out of group trips as it suits.
‘Evening activities included games night, which involved a number of memorable games with participants ranging from five to over seventy; a puddings night with enough puddings to delight the sugar addict as well as those inclined to fruit; a quiz night with questions ranging across Quakerism, Scouts and Harry Potter, to name just a few of the topics; and an entertainment night filled with music, games and uncontrollable laughter.’
Anna’s experience has her enthused about next July’s camp in Vaenol Caravan Park, Wales. She writes: ‘If you are interested in joining us for a few days or the full week please contact Yvonne Dickson on yhq100@hotmail.com.’
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