Penny Bazaar at M&S

(Here in Scarborough I joined in and came home with a tie, a key ring, a box of chocolates, a souvenir mug , a happy families pack of cards plus a shopping bag, anniversary/christmas literature, and an orange. The money went in a charity bucket so I dropped in a 50 pence instead of 5 pence!)

Shoppers snapped up more than half a million bargains in the first hour of Marks & Spencer's Christmas Penny Bazaar, the retailer said today.

M&S said more than one million customers had visited the stores by noon to take advantage of the 1p products, with some shoppers having queued since 6am to secure the Christmas stocking gifts.

The retailer launched its Penny Bazaar earlier this year to mark its 125th anniversary celebrations - going back to its roots, as the chain started life as a Penny Bazaar in 1884.

Its last Penny Bazaar ran for three days in May and saw many stores running out of stock each day due to demand.

The group charged a penny for each product, as a suggested minimum donation, with all money going towards local charities nominated by each M&S store.

Today's morning rush saw more than double the average number of shoppers for a Friday morning, while it also marked an increased turn-out on the Penny Bazaar in May, which saw about 900,000 shoppers rush to buy goods by 12pm.

M&S sold about 138 one penny items a second in the first few hours of today's sale, which was running across 350 stores.

The group's busiest outlets included those at the Warrington Gemini shopping centre, Marble Arch, Liverpool and Birmingham, with hundreds of people waiting outside.

Sir Stuart Rose, M&S chairman, said: "We've had a great start to our
Christmas Penny Bazaar.

"Thanks to M&S, millions of people will be getting a little something extra in their Christmas stockings this year - and all the profits are going to local charities." (Yorkshire Post)

Our Golden Wedding

We were married on Saturday 10th August 1957 at the Methodist Chapel in our home village where we had grown up together.

We began our anniversary day by attending a service of Holy Communion in Dulverton Chapel with fellow residents. Our parish priest presided and preached. It was the feast of St Lawrence, deacon and martyr but he emphasised that marriage and martyrdom didn't necessarily go together. After the service there was a drinks reception for us in the Hall entrance area until noon when we left to change from clericals into going away outfits.

We travelled by train and taxi to an hotel by Newmillerdam near Wakefield where we met up with close family members for evening dinner together. Apart from my brother and his wife the rest of us stayed overnight and met up again for breakfast next morning. We, the golden couple, were booked at the hotel for the weekend.

Saturday saw us enjoying the sun and local water expanse. We also visited our home village and local town - Royston and Barnsley.

On Sunday we began the day at Royston Parish Church followed by a visit to parents' graves in the churchyard. Carvery lunch at the local hotel across from the church. After lunch we spent the afternoon at my brother's home in the village and returned to our hotel early evening.

Next morning it was up and off to Wakefield for journey by train to Cardiff where we lived for the first five years of our married life. Our hotel was just across the road from the Castle and near Cardiff Arms Park.

Tuesday we spent most of the day in the redeveloped Cardiff Bay exploring the newly built home of the Welsh Assembly and the Millennium Centre plus lots of other features of the area.

Wednesday back to visit friends in Splott at the other end of the docks - our home during those early years of our life together and the birthplace of our daughter. Later in the afternoon we relax in the Civic Centre gardens before a visit to a temporary exhibition at the National Museum of Wales on the contribution of two wealthy spinster sisters to the artistic and cultural life of the nation. The gift of their art collection to the Museum was part of the exhibition. In the evening we join the congregation at St Mary's, Bute Street for a eucharistic celebration for the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Thursday we meet up for some quality time with another friend from our time in the city 50 years ago before making visits to both St David's Roman Catholic Cathedral and the Llandaff Anglican Cathedral - both uplifting and inspiring places.

Friday is the day of our return to Scarborough which we reach by teatime. So much to share from our travels. Minds and hearts are full of a rich mix of jubilee memories.

We thank God for our years together and for all the blessings of our married life.

We are grateful for family and friends who have been able to worship and celebrate with us.

For all that has been we say 'thanks'; for all that is yet to be we say 'yes'.

Falklands 25, Dulverton 5

Twenty five years ago the atlantic force regained sovereignity for Britain in the Falklands. It was the summer of our twenty fifth wedding anniversary.



Five years ago the archbishop of York dedicated this new retirement complex in which we live. In that autumn we became the first residents of flat thirty four.




THE FALKLAND ISLANDS MEMORIAL CHAPEL


When the thunder of the guns was finally stilled in and around the Falkland Islands on 14th June 1982, 258 families were left to count the terrible cost. They had lost sons, fathers and husbands in the fierce actions fought at sea, on land, and in the air. More than half the British casualties died at sea; the majority under fierce enemy attack which sank five ships and damaged eight more, some severely. Most of those killed have no grave but the sea. Others died in the fighting on land; many on dark hillsides in night battles. Yet more were killed while flying over land and sea. The Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel, located in the south of England has been built in their memory. Let them never be forgotten.



The Annual Memorial Service held there today, at noon, will be attended by the Queen, the Prime Minister, and Lady Thatcher.



THE DULVERTON CELEBRATION DINNER



The anniversary here will be marked this evening by a celebration dinner followed by a community quiz around the theme of 5th anniversaries.