All Hallows by the Tower of London (the resting place of several of those beheaded on Tower Hill) was once more the meeting place for the Friends of the Diocese in August. This year, I went on my own. We have been in an interregnum in our local church for over a year and John has been covering most of the services. He felt he needed to be doing things locally.

The Reunion is always a heart warming and mind expanding day. The A.G.M. provides the opportunity to catch up on events in the UK as well as those in the Gulf and Cyprus.

Bishop Clive has an amazing ability to remember people from all his travels. We had not met since February, in a very different setting and context and yet he remembered our shared experiences – no doubt enhanced by the unusual photos I had taken to show him.

So many of us were asking him “how are things in Cyprus with so many refugees from the Lebanon arriving on the Island? ”. So in his talk he told us more of that situation and asked for prayer especially for the Bishop in Jerusalem. Bishop Clive seems to have all the parts of his Diocese in the forefront of his mind and could speak so fluently and knowledgeably about the problems, joys and events all over the Gulf, as well as in Cyprus. Our son and family are now in your Diocese so it is always extremely interesting to hear news of the various countries.

There is a short gap between the end of the A.G.M and the celebration of Holy Communion which binds us together from all over the world.

I had one awful “senior moment”. The Bishop had just said “Jesus, redeemer of the world, grant us peace” when my mobile phone rang. I only have it on for travelling and use it so infrequently that I had totally forgotten to switch it off. At the conclusion of the Communion service, I turned to my neighbours and apologised profusely. It was then that I realised I was sitting next to an ex Ambassador to Bahrain, Ian Lewty, and in front of your previous Dean, Keith. So from my apologies some happy conversation flowed. Keith told me of someone preaching in your Cathedral whose mobile phone rang while he was actually speaking from the pulpit!

All Hallows provide everyone with a most wonderful lunch and this gave us the opportunity for more conversation, discussions and to catch up of news. I met up again with Dean (now Archdeacon) Alan and Pam. We had only met briefly before as they arrived back from the UK to a non air conditioned flat as we left after our month with you in the summer of 2004, so it was good to hear more of what you are all doing at St. Christopher’s.       Kay Morison

[Editor’s note :- Rev. John Morison was interregnum here in Bahrain with his wife Kay who shares his ministry in the conduct of the services and preaching.]