Just a brief, if inadequate word of thanks for the many expressions of kindness I received last Sunday at my farewell Mass: publicly from Tony and from Cyril, and privately from those who spoke and wrote so generously to me.

To coin a phrase, I was blown away! I’m grateful that my efforts at fulfilling my job description over the last fourteen years chimed with so many. In the words of the song, I could only do it my way: thank you for reassuring me that my way worked, at least some of the time.

The cheque for £3,753 I received at the presentation has been added to, and the amount now stands at over £4.000. Thank you to all those who organized this and those who contributed so abundantly.

I repeat just three of the four things we should say before moving on: “Thank you”, “Sorry”, and “I love (and shall miss) you.”

Meanwhile, please welcome Fr Oliver, our new parish priest. May he feel as at home and as loved in our parish as I have.