Grace
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I’m shattered and excited because it’s almost opening night of the Lion King. Set is up, sound in place and so it’s nearly time for the lions to roar.
St Nicolas’ primary school in Taplow is really something to be proud of. A headmaster with a vision to inspire, a music coordinator (Jenny Dobson) who constantly thinks outside the box and a year six tutor (Ms Holmes) whose background as an art director in blockbuster movies inspires and enables projects like this to happen.
Monday morning it’s a run through to see what still needs sorting, Tuesday morning is band call, Tuesday afternoon first show for the school then Wednesday and Thursday doors open and all will be revealed to the parents and public…… “Hakuna Matata.”
Anyway it’s Sunday morning and it’s officially my day off so I’m up at 8am and out for a run then off to church for a little guidance. I end up sitting in front of a wonderful lady who has a fantastic sparkle. We start to talk and Grace tells me that she has been a church chorister for over 80 years.
At age 57 she retired but Grace very quickly discovered that retirement was not for her. She popped along to her local employment agency and asked if there was any work available. She was immediately directed to Eton College as they needed an administrator in the bursary department for two weeks. Well 23 years later Grace was still in her “Man’s World” and she had many stories about that iconic school.
When it came to the communion Grace asked if I would take her arm and walk her to the altar as she had lost her sight and needed to be reliant on others at times. It was so humbling to walk her to receive the bread and wine. There was no self-pity just an open heart and a spirit that any of us would be proud to carry. We all complain about such rubbish every day and yet this morning I met a lady full of love. She has something she could complain about but instead she shone. Thank you Grace for reminding me that most of the time life is worth smiling about.
Yesterday I went to the RAF memorial site at Runneymede. In the cloisters 20,000 Royal Air Force casualties of the 2nd World War are remembered. They were lost in operations from bases in the UK and Europe with no known graves. The site overlooks the Thames and the riverside meadow where the Magna Carta, was sealed by King John in 1215.
As I walked around in the stillness of the memorial site (except for the sound of aircrafts which I must admit was very haunting). I was instantly drawn to the Evans’s and although I do not know of any immediate family that were in the RAF, to see your surname was certainly very sobering. The last 24 hours have really touched my heart – thank you.