Never too old

Mary, in Brussels with Dety, the great-granddaughter of the late Pastor Koli, a former General Secretary of the Baptist Community of the River Congo (CBFC)

Mary takes up the story of why she wanted to be part of the holiday club: “I’ve known the Hattons for a long time; my husband has Parkinsons [disease] and so we couldn’t go on holiday – it was only for a week, so I could get someone to cover. I love children and I’m a French speaker.”

So Mary became an invaluable part of a team of four who helped Viviennne and Phillip at their July holiday club. She was the club nurse and took registration duties away from Phillip’s busy schedule. And, of course, she was able to chat to the children in French – many of whom were from D R Congo.

Vivienne and Phillip were delighted that 18 children in the five to 12 age range came to the holiday club. The club was held in a park, surrounded by houses and flats, close to the French-speaking Baptist church they pastor.

Mary remarked that two women, whose children were too young to go to the holiday club, came and sat in the park and watched the activities each day, with their children beside them in their pushchairs.

The park is situated in a prominent place, near a major roundabout, with people passing by all the time. They had a lot of people come and ask them, “What are you doing?” and “Why?” Quite often the reply would be, “Thank you for doing something for the children in the area”.

Mary, Vivienne and BMS supported partner worker Jeanne Way-Way present prizes at the parents' evening of holiday club