South Shawlands Church of Scotland

Our Guernsey visitors.

  From Friday the 9th of April, a group of former evacuees from Guernsey came to Glasgow for a week. It was a real privilege to spend time with old and new friends over the time the group were in Glasgow. The group’s co-ordinator Ann Morris had arranged a full itinerary. There was an exhibition of the individual memories and photos of the group in their time here in Glasgow, which was held in St Ninian’s episcopal church, and a special service was held there. One of the evacuees – Rev Arthur Mignot, an Episcopal priest from Aldeney in the channel islands, was 10 years old when he was evacuated to St Ninian’s episcopal church in Pollokshields, and the church an community played a formative role in the development of his calling.

   The city of Glasgow offered hospitality to the group – holding a special service at Glasgow Cathedral on the Sunday morning, and then holding a civic reception at the City Chambers in their honour. Some people from South Shawlands church were also included in the invitation, and there is a photo of us here! It was also hoped that Marie McLachlan and her family might be able to come along, as Marie remembers being a Guide helper when the school children came to South Shawlands church in 1940, but sadly she was not well enough to attend on that particular day.

  A particular highlight for us as a church family, was the Scottish night held at the Ivory hotel on Tuesday 13th of April. Jane Sommerville had co-ordinated the choir to sing some songs, and Simon McNeill had organised the praise band to play some Scottish music, and Stewart and Carol Moir sang. It was a very memorable and splendid evening, with lots of fun and fellowship and food (including Guernsey Gache!). It was a privilege to meet the evacuees and their families, and to hear something of their stories.  Arthur Mignot gave me a poem which he had written at this evening, which he said I could include in the church magazine – here it is

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