This year has been very eventful, but by and large the family have come out of it relatively unscathed.
The children and grandchildren are all thriving. Megan is still enjoying teaching at Haberdashers, including leading a skiing trip to Norway and also running the school’s robotics group. Chloe is now 21, still painting; and William is 14.
Benjamin has settled well into his house in Bradford and has the children staying regularly. We see them as often as we can. Bryony is 13, Taegan 10 and Finn 6. Benjamin has found a church near him that suits him well and he is getting well integrated into the community. Last May Peter took the boys to Diggerland while Pauline took Bryony to watch Mary Poppins at the Bradford Alhambra
Alice and Maurice are both working incredibly hard, but are enjoying life with Albert who is now 4. They took him to his first major Rugby Match at Twickenham (The final of the Women’s World Cup, won by the Red Roses), which he thoroughly enjoyed, including leading the chanting on the way home.
Looking back, it seems Pauline and Peter were quite busy at home and away. And we have been away quite a bit.
In March the whole family met for our nephew Chris’ marriage to Katie. As their wedding was north of Manchester Pauline and I called in the next day to have a tour of Coronation Street.
In April the church choir had the great pleasure of singing Evensong in St Paul’s Cathedral. It is always a great event when the choir (including Pauline and Alice) travel with a large number of the congregation to sing somewhere new.
The choir singing Salvator Mundi at the cathedral:
For Pauline’s birthday (well, a few days before it), we went to Belfast to see the sights, and in particular the Titanic Museum, which was well worth the visit. Belfast is a very interesting city!
Then in July we were invited to the Stewards Enclosure at Henley Regatta, and had a memorable day out watching the races.
Later in the month, sticking with the river theme, we had our Cruise down the Rhine, beginning in Amsterdam and finishing in Basal, taking in Cologne, Koblenz, Heidelberg, Baden-Baden, and Strasbourg. We thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience, being waited on hand and foot, and seeing so many wonderful sights.
In August our friends from University, Alan and Liz invited us over to Dorset for a couple of days, and took us to visit Corfe Castle and Kingston Lacy.
At the beginning of October to celebrate Peter’s birthday we took an extended weekend trip to Malta.
We stayed near Valetta but managed to see a lot of Malta as well as a day on Gozo. We even got to swim in the sea and take a look at the fish swimming around beneath us.
After getting back from Malta we again joined the choir on a trip to a cathedral. This time Portsmouth. Another enjoyable day out.
The choir singing A Quiet Heart at the cathedral:
And then we had our new arrival. Andrea.
This little bundle arrived on 16th October at just over 8 weeks old. She is being trained as a guide dog. She will be with us for about a year when she then moves to the next stage of her training, before being matched up with her blind owner.
She is growing fast and is now well settled into her routine, we walk her twice a day and is able to be let off the lead for a run (and still come back!). We have been able to introduce her to everyone at church. Her training is going well, but she keeps us on our toes.
It may mean being a little less spontaneous with our gadding about, but we are really enjoying her as a temporary member of the family.
Lionel Voke
17 Dec 2025Thank you for your festive greeting.we thought we had a busy life but you leave us standing and then we are older
Have a wonderful Christmas and let’s hope for a peaceful and happy New Year
With best wishes to you and your family
Rosaline and Lionel
Judi
17 Dec 2025Love the pictures and your news. Thanks for sharing.
John Hoskins
17 Dec 2025Thank you Peter & Pauline and a very happy Christmas to you both. I liked the picture of my one time dentist – Fort St Angelo in Grand Harbour. I lived in Malta for 18 months aged 6/7 and used to go to the Naval dentist based in the Fort. Very happy memories – not the dentist!
John
Diane
17 Dec 2025Hi, Peter and Pauline
Thank you for your pictures and greetings for Christmas.
It’s lovely reading about what you’ve been doing and to hear about Megan,Ben and Alice and their children.
And how gorgeous is Andrea!!
Sending blessings from our house to you all, Diane & Ian
Michele Newsome
19 Dec 2025Pauline and Peter
thank you for your message and photos with news of your family and travels. Malta is on my bucket list!
How lovely you are socialsing a guide dog before it’further training. My auntie used to do it ; she found it very rewarding.
wishing you a Happy Christmas and many blessings in 2026
Michele
David Collis
20 Dec 2025lovely photos, thanks for sharing, happy Christmas to you all.
David and Kerry