Parish of Leatherhead - Goodbye to David and Ginny
St David's Day, Sunday 1 March, Lent 1
10.30am Leatherhead Parish Church Family Service,
followed by a Bring and Share Lunch in the Parish Church Hall
The Music Group singing for the last time for David & Ginny
Ginny gracing the line up
David with the Music Group
One for the family album
part of the throng
some of the rest - David Ireland is a quick mover
Mr Bill Avery, the N-gauge model maker
and the Parish Church he presented to David.
Ginny Eaton at the lunch in the Parish Hall on 1 March
When we arrived in Leatherhead as a family we had a young teen and a 7 year old not to mention two cats. Look what 20 years does! Chris and Carly – all grown up. It’s not always easy growing up and the Vicar’s child, in particular the Vicar’s daughter, you get a lot of teasing.
And then there’s the homeless guy to climb over because he’s sleeping in our porch on a freezing night. Thank you Chris and Carly for being with us and being such great kids all the way. And thanks to all of you for the kindness and support offered to them and about them over these years.
When we arrived we still had three of our parents alive. Because of such a spacious Vicarage we have been able to nurse all of them at different times there. David’s mother Doris lived her last year with us and you took her to your heart as a church until her death in 1993. After my dad’s death in 1995 my Mum moved in and lived her final six years with us, and again you generously befriended her too. Thank you for all that support.
My sister Vicky, who’s here today, used to come and do the caring whilst we holidayed. Sadly she was widowed in those years. But it’s meant that she has pilgrimed to Rome and Normandy with us as a church and feels part of this church too.
We went camping for a few years in Dorset and our first tent was a well-used Canning family one, to get us started. I broke my leg, very easily, like Mary Cruddas has – and so many of you rallied around with cleaning and shopping for us.
You know how I say “my husband’s the Vicar” rather than “I’m the Vicar’s wife”! And you are careful when introducing me. I didn’t mind very much, but it is important, because ‘Vicar’s wife’ is not a job and increasingly over our 35 years in parish life the role of women in the church has changed hugely. For the better. Vicars are women now, more and more, with working husbands who may, or may not, be at church very much.
I went back out to work nearly 16 years ago, to Woodlands School in Fortyfoot Road, And I soon grew to love the work with the youngsters with disabilities, including our own Jonathan Price. From that job I gradually moved into working with UNISON full time and I am aiming to continue doing so for another year or two.
What I want to thank you for is for letting me be myself and not put on me expectations of who I should be. This has meant I have been free to get involved, or not, as I could and as I chose. And some of those choices … ? The years in our choir, with Carly to start off with for the first four years (until being in the choir was not cool), were stimulating and a real privilege, singing under five different Directors of Music over the years.
Lay leading the Taize style services with Roger for a number of years ahs been a very special time. The gentle quiet singing and praying together, and sitting together for the Silence has always been a time of spiritual support. Thank you for letting me be deacon at Communion too, which has been a real privilege. And getting to know many of you in Lent groups that I’ve lead – again always a special period of time – sharing our doubts and certainties together on the journey of our lives as Christians.
Thanks too for some super parties. I’ve had two 'big O' ones and we enjoyed such a lovely Silver Anniversary party in 1996 with Barn Dancing and all. Thank you greatly for letting us be part of your family over these years, as well as the Vicar’s family, I can’t thank you enough. And I will miss you greatly.
Finally, rather publicly and personally, I’d like on this St David’s day to thank David for being my priest over these years. Life isn’t smooth sailing all the time, is it? We had sad times of loss back in the late 70s. I struggle with work issues like many of you. My Christian faith is full of questions and doubts as well as times of hope and certainties, David’s teaching and listening has always helped me too.
Thank you David.
Feeding the masses
The Eatons with the Churchwardens, wives and a few of the many gifts they will take with them
which also included a substantial cheque and a digital photo frame.
St David's Day, Sunday 1 March, Lent 1
6.30pm Evening Communion6.30pm Evening Communion
ORGAN & CHOIRSetting: Mass of St Thomas
Organist: Peter Holt261 Here in this place
471 O dearest Lord
Choir anthem: Purcell Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts
382 Let us break bread together
463 Now let us from this table rise
Choir anthem: Oliver The Lord Bless YouCommunion – Taizé 7 & 4
The Eatons with the Choir and organist for this service, Peter Holt.
Rev Carol Coslett read the lesson and Ginny was Deacon
Rev Mary Cruddas could have participated
had she not been wheelchair bound with an injured foot
from the April 2009 Parish magazine
A very big thank you
Ginny and I would like to say a very big thank you to everyone for our last Sunday at the beginning of March. We are still overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity we received from the coming together of so many people, the wonderful meal at lunch time and refreshments in the evening, together with special music from the choir and music group, but also for the extraordinary generosity expressed through the presentation of a cheque for over Ł2000 and the digital photograph viewer– even if I couldn't make out what it was at first or how to use it!
My one regret is not going to the church door at the end of the morning service which I thought would speed up proceedings and we would be able to meet up in the Hall. I realise now that by doing this we missed speaking to quite a lot of people who had come for the service, which is a sadness to us both. Hopefully our paths will cross elsewhere. More haste less speed!
So, thank you again for the day and for the support and friendship of the last twenty years. Our address in Brockham is: Two Way House, Wheelers Lane, Brockham, Betchworth, Surrey RH3 7LA. With love and good wishes from Ginny and myself. David Eaton
images Haslam unless otherwise stated
page last updated 30 Mar 2009
