Don Beaver, a longstanding member of the St Martin’s congregation, is 90 years old (or more accurately young) today.
As well as being a wonderful friend to so many of us in East Woodhay, Don has done so much for the church and to enrich the lives of us all over very many years.
His professional engineering skills, knowledge, expertise and generosity have been of immense value in maintaining the fabric of the church building. But there are so many other things he has done to preserve and enhance the life of our church. Managing the heating system, maintaining the lighting system and 100(!) candles in the candelabra which make our Christmas Eve midnight mass service so special, opening and locking the church are just a very few examples. It was only when he decided it was time to hand over some of his responsibilities that the scale of all that he has done became apparent!
Thank you, Don, for everything. We, your many friends and admirers in East Woodhay, wish you, your family and your twin sister a wonderful day and very many happy returns. You deserve every happiness. It is, of course, very sad that your beloved Phil, who set us an equally great example, cannot join the celebrations but she will be with you all in spirit. Have a fantastic day!