We have a great group of friends who are in what is called a Belfrey Group, although most of them now belong to other churches. We are also Belfrey Group Stewards for a couple of church groups in St Michael le Belfrey, aka The Belfrey.  Our church is still meeting in our temporary venue, The De Grey Rooms, while our building is undergoing a massive refurbishment and reordering process. It isn’t due to finish until 2026.

We still meet up with four friends from Harrogate Christian Fellowship days. Richard and Jenny are still in Harrogate and Rhona and Colin are in Pocklington 12 miles from York. Health issues have prevented some of our monthly meet ups but God is good and we really enjoy our times together.

We have walking friends, Ros and Chris. On this walk through a spectacular limestone gill we arrived back at the cars soaked. Ros walks very fast, we have a job keeping up with her!
We often go walking with our friend Lesley who used to live with us when we were in Harrogate and now still meet up with once a month or so for a meal and a walk.

We also go for walks, just the two of us. The beautiful country around us in York, within easy reach of the moors and the dales, give us plenty of choice; although our favourites are around Harrogate, Ripon, Helmsley and the coast, visiting Fountains Abbey, Harlow Car Gardens, Rievaulx Abbey, Whitby, Robin Hoods Bay, Scarborough and Filey.

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In January 2025 we will mark ten years since Warwick died. We usually visit Fountains Abbey on the anniversary; the place where his ashes are scattered in Studley Royal Dear Park. His joyful life brings a reminder of his sunny personality and unconditional love. We are comforted by our hope in Jesus Christ that we will be reunited in the resurrection.

This year we have said goodbye to some dear friends and family. Notably, Derek Ormston, our brother in law. He died in July after suffering dementia. Also Ruth Somerville, a dear friend we spent special times with during her treatment for cancer, who died in hope in October.

Back to Claremont News 2024

Further back to Claremont News 2023

Is it almost 2024 already? How time flies. Here is a round up of what we did and where we went this year. We have celebrated weddings, welcomed babies, wept at funerals, visited beautiful places and met up with family and friends. Though retired, we’re busy but doing less. Click the links below to find out more.

As this year comes to a close we are thankful to God for all he has helped us through. We trust you will have a blessed Christmastime and a hopeful new year; and that you will know the peace of God that passes all understanding.

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It feels as though we have been away from home more often this year, with visits to The Lakes, Peak District, Northern Ireland, and Madeira as well as shorter breaks in Coventry, Gloucestershire, Cambridge and Chelmsford – the last two regularly to visit Matthew and Wesley’s families.

For our Lakes holiday in June we stayed in the Northern area near Penrith and explored places we have rarely visited before. Buttermere, Pooley Bridge, places around Keswick and climbed only one fell, Latrigg; just a gentle stroll really!

We joined Matthew’s family in the Peak District in July. Three cottages side by side in a village called Wetton; one for us, one for Matthew, Laura, Anna and Rowan, and one for John and Eileen, Laura’s parents. To the delight of the children there was a play barn there too. So we enjoyed the local riverside walks in Dovedale, explored the ancient Thors Cave, rode the heritage railway in the Churnett Valley and enjoyed meals in local pubs and restaurants.

In September we took the ferry to Larne in Northern Ireland. My brother’s son, Joel, was getting married to Rachael and we decided to take a holiday in Northern Ireland. The Antrim Coast is spectacular; Giants Causeway, Glenariff Forest Park to name just two places we enjoyed. We also visited Mount Stewart on Stangford Lough and the Titanic Experience in Belfast. We will have to return to explore more of the beauty of Ulster.

Our final visit to Madeira. Flying is such a hassle and bad for the environment so our visit to the Portuguese island of Madeira is to be our last. We have been there most years since 2013 partly because of a deal we had with a resort company there, which ended this year. But also because Madeira is such a pleasant destination. This year the October temperatures were record breaking. The staff said they had never known it to be so hot. We abandoned the Levada Walks and the mountains this year (perhaps a sign of our advancing years) and settled for gentle days wandering from cafe to cafe, reading and soaking up the warm climate.

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Claremont News 2023