The family get togethers happened again in 2016.

Stephensons in Coventry – Mark took the picture.

In January the four elder Stephensons met for a curry in Coventry. Service was slow but the food was excellent. So was the conversation.

Ashmores in Cannock – Maurice, Joan, Ann, Janet and Philip

In October the Ashmores were together, this year in Cannock. Not so many of the younger generations this year. At this event we celebrate the birthdate of “Mum”. It’s now ten years since she died.  Next year is the centenary of her debut. She was born in 1917. Perhaps we’ll do something special to mark her day.

The original Harrogate Leadership team.

Since our friends Rhona and Colin moved back to Yorkshire (Pocklington) we have been getting together with them and Richard and Jenny from Harrogate. Oft told stories have been re-told time and again. We’ve shared some good times and great food. This picture was in the Stanbury’s garden where a little rain showered their b-b-q. You can see we are still all smiles despite the damp. The other person in the picture is Jackie Fisher.

These meet ups have also let us see each others’ churches too. So we went to Pocklington Christian Fellowship and Mowbray Community Church in Harrogate, as well as a Pocklington Churches Together event in Burnby Hall Gardens called the big sing.

We also celebrated two significant birthdays with old friends in Harrogate. Jean Ashworth and Pam Broadbank. I won’t reveal their ages, after all it wouldn’t be right would it.

An opportunity to fly in a glider seemed to be too good to miss. One of our church groups – The Outdoor Belfrey Group – needed an extra person to make up the numbers and I was invited. “Yes please”. So on a Friday evening in September we set off for The Wolds Gliding Club in Pocklington for the flight. Joan operated the camera while I slipped on the parachute.

A few rudementary instructions from the pilot in the back seat and we were ready to launch. A giant Chevy V6 car engine at the end of the grass landing strip was attached to the glider with a steel cable. On a signal the winch was powered into life, the cable tightened and the hurled me and the glider up to 1,000 feet above the flat East Yorkshire landscape. I seemed to be moving slower than the seat I was sitting in – something called g-force momentarily churned my inner organs until the glider reached its peak and the cable fell away. Calm, gentle flight followed as we circled in the evening sky.

Now it was my turn. I took the stick and tentatively pushed it forwards, pulled it back … “right … further … you’ll be fine”. So we turned and headed for the landing strip once more. The pilot took control again and soon we were bouncing along the ground. Such a short yet exhilarating flight.

Joan showed me the pictures – and then we headed home. The sky had been the limit.