Thanks!

Morag and I would like to thank everyone involved in organising the celebrations which followed my final service in Dublin. Thanks to those who brought the food, those who served it, and those who did the clearing up afterwards! Thanks to the musicians, singers, and poets who entertained us, and thanks to you all for your good wishes, gifts, cards, smiles and tears. It was truly a memorable occasion. Later that evening, when we had time to reflect on the proceedings, Morag and I likened it to a wedding: speeches, drink, cake, photograph album, the sense of one period of life ending and another one beginning. ‘It’s quite likely that we’ll never be made to feel this special again,’ said Morag.
And we did feel special. Despite the inevitable sadness we felt at leaving behind this wonderful city and some of our dearest friends, we were buoyed by all the kind words of encouragement and love which were expressed, both in the service and at the celebrations. We are especially grateful that everybody seems to understand and accept the reasons for our leaving – a desire on our part to get back to our house in Pontefract (which I have barely lived in for seventeen years), to leave before age and infirmity render me ineffective, and to give me time to do some writing.
We take away some very precious memories, and we will always treasure the beautiful pictures you gave us and the inspired book of photographs, memories and reflections which will remind us of this unique building and this peerless congregation. We are sad, but we are also excited by the prospects before us. This leave-taking hasn’t been nearly as traumatic as the one eight years ago when, because of the doctor’s gloomy diagnosis, we thought we would never return. At least we’ll be able to come back for the occasional visit, and it’s quite possible that we will be spending some time in Cork next year, so Dublin will only be a pleasant train journey away.
Thank you once again for your generosity and your love. Please give Bridget your support and ensure that the flame of liberal witness, which has been the Unitarian contribution to the religious life of Dublin for over three centuries, and in which I have been privileged to have a brief involvement, is kept burning brightly in these troubled times of increasing fundamentalism and fanaticism.
God bless you all.

Bill and Morag


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