The following are pictures from Peter's last service on Sun 25/09/2011. This was a combined Harvest Festival and Farewell to Peter.
Peter has now retired after 12 faithful years of service to the Parish and Benefice.
The service was attended by over 300 people (there was hardly a free seat left!). One estimate put the figure at about 350 - a measure of just how much Peter was thought of by the community. The service was a lovely mix of the traditional Harvest Festival, with well known hymns, and a fun farewell to Peter. The choir sang two beautiful anthems, one especially for Peter and the children also gave Peter a special farewell.
Peter was presented with gifts of an engraved glass goblet and a set of Canon flashguns (for his passion for photography) by the Church Wardens of St. Mary's (Alan Plowman and Duncan Smith) and St. Denys (John Henderson and Jim Spence) on behalf of the Parishes. Also included in the gifts were cheques with the donations from the Parishes, both Kempsey and Severn Stoke & Croome D'Abitot, which again demonstrated the high regard with which Peter is held. Although a slightly sad occasion - we are losing a friend and a very special Vicar - it was also a time of joy with much laughter.
After the service a buffet lunch was provided for the entire congregation - no mean feat given the numbers involved. Our thanks to all who helped to make this such a special and memorable day for Peter and the community.
We all wish Peter the very best for a long and happy retirement and hope he has plenty of opportunities to indulge his interests and hobbies. We hope he will visit us in Kempsey and Severn Stoke to see all his friends that hold him in such high regard.
Peter you will be very much missed and a very hard act to follow! God bless you.
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