St Albans Abbey

Entries Tagged as 'St Albans Abbey'

Who is Justin Bieber?

November 24th, 2011 · 4 Comments · Sandy's blog

You’re part of a panel in front of 600 sixth formers filling St Albans Abbey nave. The young questioner poses the question, “Justin Bieber and the media are promoting underage sex. Does this mean teenage pregnancies are acceptable?” The chair turns to me. “Sandy?”
The stuff of nightmares, except this was the actual final question in [...]

The darkest and coldest hour is just before the dawn

December 4th, 2010 · No Comments · Sandy's blog

This is not a profound comment on the coalition but rather a reflection of my feelings in the small hours of this morning as I sat hunched up outside St Albans Abbey. It was the annual “sleep-out” to raise money for local homelessness charities and I was supporting the St Albans Open Door night shelter.
I [...]

Colin Slee

November 25th, 2010 · 4 Comments · Sandy's blog

I am just gutted to hear of the sudden death of Colin Slee. The Church of England will mourn a passionate defender of liberal values in the church – others are better qualified than I to write of his contribution to the Anglican Communion, see for example today’s instant Guardian comment. I will just miss [...]

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Tags:Colin Slee·St Albans Abbey

Babs Yule 1920-2010

November 24th, 2010 · No Comments · Sandy's blog

Funerals can be an uplifting experience. The ceremony at Garston Crematorium to say good bye to Babs Yule was a case in point, an altogether happy and affectionate celebration of a remarkable woman, who made a huge contribution to life in St Albans. She was a devoted Liberal Democrat and only a few weeks ago [...]

Solomon in all his glory

March 21st, 2010 · No Comments · Sandy's blog

One of Francesca’s friends sings in St Albans Bach Choir and we went to last night’s performance of Handel’s Solomon at the Abbey. (I then realised how many of my friends and contacts are also members – it’s a real community thing.)
Solomon is a work I have never heard performed before and it was a [...]

God and the Liberal Democrats

February 28th, 2010 · No Comments · Sandy's blog

“The liberal deviseth liberal things, and by liberal things shall he stand.”
It must be true – it’s in the bible. Isaiah chapter 32, verse 8 to be exact.
The New English Bible has a different translation from the original Hebrew – “The man of noble mind forms noble designs and stands firm in his nobility.”
I am [...]

Crossing boundaries

February 2nd, 2010 · No Comments · Sandy's blog

A belated note about last Saturday’s St Albans Interfaith Group’s reception at the Civic Centre.
St Albans is special in so many ways, and the longstanding interfaith group (which predates 9/11) is evidence of that. The initiative came from the Rev Tony Hurle of St Paul’s Church, who wanted to create a regular dialogue between the [...]

Cathedral like a beacon on a hill – the view that could be lost for ever

July 1st, 2009 · 1 Comment · Hands off Herts, Sandy's blog

I have sent in my personal letter of objection to the Helioslough proposals for the Radlett freight terminal. I hope I am among many, many local residents and organisations to have voiced our dismay.
There are so many different grounds why this proposal is wholly unsuitable for the site -

“coalescence” of currently separate communities destroying [...]

Abbey organ first notes

April 13th, 2009 · 1 Comment · Sandy's blog

My friend David Pearson of Radio Verulam sent me this recording of the first music to be played on the refurbished St Albans Abbey organ – Saint Saens organ symphony at Saturday’s Easter Vigil.
We were married to this organ – Vierne’s First Symphony played by the then Master of Music Colin Walsh.

St Albans Market in the chill

January 10th, 2009 · No Comments · Sandy's blog

Gosh it was chilly in St Albans market this morning. All the stallholders were blue with cold, coriander was virtally frozen solid, clouds of breath from shoppers’ mouths. But it was cheerfully dickensian, people stamping their feet, rubbing their hands, and the Abbey Tower peeking over the roofs.

How lucky we are to have the [...]

Sandy 4 St Albans

Sandy Walkington campaigns with the Liberal Democrats across St Albans