Summary of the work of the Vestry 

 

Vestry Report January 2024

We started by having a campaign to improve health and safety in the church and grounds. Ian Bradbury has taken part in a pilot Health and Safety Scheme and also in a fire safety course; his main concern is that the fire exit door in the hall is kept unobstructed. He has bought a bigger fire blanket which is kept behind the altar and Peter Mackay has re-erected the fire assembly post between the car-park and the road. The fire extinguishers have been replaced by a firm from Perth as Moray Fire Services never responded to his requests.  The Rothiemurchus estate workers lopped the unsafe branches of trees near the car-park and mended the fence. We have cut down some broom at the entrance to the car-park so that it is easier to see cars coming from the left. Paul, the Aviemore handyman, has installed a handrail outside the vestry door, mended the main gate and repainted the white strip at the edge of the steps. We have a pad of tear-off risk assessment forms which should be filled in before embarking on jobs and there is an accident book in the hall kitchen with a few pages left in the vestry. Gary has bought a ramp to enable wheel-chair users and pram-pushers easier access to the church. 

We have been very pleased to welcome the Ukrainian families who were living at Coylumbridge and in Aviemore. Some of us got to know them quite well by trying to help them with their English. We managed to buy Service books in Ukrainian and were given 5 Ukrainian Bibles. 53 of their children performed a lively Nativity play in church and later, over coffee, each young person was given a present carefully chosen by Jan. They treated us to a tasty traditional lunch in the Autumn and then we had an excellent combined communal lunch in February.  Since then, many of them have moved away from the area but we are very pleased that some continue to worship with us.

Anne Bridgen arranged for the Air Source 1 Heating expert to come to advise us on how to heat our buildings more cheaply but we never received a quote for the necessary work. Gary has made progress in his ongoing application to Business Energy Scotland for a government loan of up to £100K repayable in 8 years. There may be problems with our not having double glazing in the church because it is a listed building.

Our versatile organist, Stuart, mended the hall fence, devised an easier way of putting up the banners and has mended the rotting noticeboard and repainted it. He and Cathy found time to get married, play the organ, encourage the choir, produce the pew leaflets and also put on an excellent series of concerts, the aim of which was not to raise money but to encourage people into the church. A second hand piano has been bought for the hall. 

 As usual thanks are due to everyone else who keeps our church going; first the clergy whether conducting services in church or by zoom or working from home and keeping everyone in touch. Thank God for Gary who “volunteered” to take over from Andrew Buxton who was our very capable Treasurer for many years. We are grateful to Sue Sykes who has undertaken making up the reading rota. Geoffrey continues to cut the grass, look after the heating and put out the tables and chairs for coffee. Lynda has kept up her high standard of flower arranging and organises the shoe box appeal. John arranged for Anyjobsaviemore to come to do some work in the garden; unfortunately, it was very snowy so they could not do as much as they hoped. Jan looks after the hall and Janet, despite moving house and being unwell, has had a group looking at the new Eucharist service book to decide what we want to include in our version which will be printed soon. She also manages the website. Anne and Olwen look after Facebook. And thank-you to everyone who sings in the choir, welcomes the congregation, reads the lessons, leads the Intercessions and makes coffee and let us not forget our Auditor, Richard Green.

Sarah Mackay (Vestry Secretary)

 

 

 

 

Our notice board has been given a revamp by Stuart, helped by Peter to reinstate it. We considered buying  a NEW ONE, but when Stuart offered to do a 'Repair Shop' job on it, we said, Yes please!!