MORE ABOUT NEW VICAR. Tracey Doyle, shortly to arrive as the new vicar at St Mary's Church, Ivinghoe with Pitstone, is a Southampton-born former police officer.
The youngest of six children, Tracey met her husband Mick on the force, and they have four children: Ryan, who has followed his parents into the police force and is based in Windsor; Keiran, who works at Shuttleworth College; Sean, undergoing an appr
enticeship in Buckingham; and Melanie, who is at school in Aylesbury. Mick has continued in the police force and is currently Area Commander for Aylesbury Vale. Tracey's path to ordination began when, as a long-time worshipper, she became involved with Sunday school and youth groups. She recognised her calling to ministry and joined a pilot scheme for the training of local non-stipendiary ministry (now known as ordained local ministers) and was ordained in 1997. She became a stipendiary minister three years ago and is currently a curate at St James Church, Great Horwood, where she has worshipped for 17 years. The family are moving into the vicarage on Monday, and her licensing ceremony will be in church the following Monday, starting at 7.30pm. Everyone will be welcome.
LUNCHES FOR LENT. Book in good time to secure a place at this year's Lent lunches, taking place from noon to 1.30pm on Thursday February 26 in Ivinghoe Town Hall and Thursday March 25 in The Millennium Extension at Pitstone Memorial Hall. The menu offers a choice of delicious home-made soups, bread, cheese, fruit, and tea or coffee. There will also be a raffle. The lunches are in aid of Save the Children and Iain Rennie Hospice at Home. Tickets, priced just £3.50, can be obtained from Olwyn on 01525 220733 or Joan on 01296 668891.
COFFEE MORNING. John and Olwyn Shadrack host this month's coffee morning in their Ivinghoe home on Wednesday February 18. Anyone requiring transport should phone 01525 220733.
MUSEUM SOCIETY. The next meeting of Pitstone and Ivinghoe Museum Society will be at 8pm on Thursday February 19 in Pitstone Green Farm, when Bill Griffith from Milton Keynes Museum will talk about developments since the fire there in 1995.
PITSTONE PRAISE. The next Pitstone Praise – an hour of praise and worship – takes place in the Millennium Extension of Pitstone Memorial Hall at 3pm on Sunday February 22 and will be followed by light refreshments.
ASH WEDNESDAY. The new vicar, the Rev Tracey Doyle, will take midweek communion on Ash Wednesday, February 25, at 9.15am.
MARATHON MUM. Ivinghoe mother of two Gill Gordon will be among the 30,000 competitors in this year's London Marathon, taking place on April 18. It will fulfil a lifelong ambition for her, as well as hopefully raising £1,500 for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, a cause close to her heart as a childminder. Gill said: "The knowledge that I will be raising funds to help prevent the suffering and abuse of children will spur me on to the finishing line." Gill is holding a fundraising jumble sale at Cheddington Village Hall on Saturday February 21. If you have any jumble or would like to sponsor her, please contact her on 07742 435227 or e-mail vendette@hotmail.com.
