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Andrea Weightman Goes North
Born and brought up in Ashtead, Andrea Weightman was one of Miss Aitchison's first pupils at St Giles' School. In 1996, following brief stints with Youth With A Mission and other work around the country, Andrea became a pastoral worker and music leader at St Giles' and St George's church. We then said goodbye to her in 2000 as she went off to theological college in Cambridge, returning once again two years later to continue her work in the church. "My work here in Ashtead has been invaluable in preparing me for my new step in life" she says, as she prepares to become an ordained minister in the Anglican church. "For the next four years I shall be a curate at St Chad's parish church in Handforth, Cheshire." "Working for the church in Ashtead" she explains, "gave me opportunities to develop different skills, to grow in confidence, and experience something of what it is like to work full-time for a church. There is so much that I've learnt from different people and situations. I shall greatly miss family and friends, but also a community that has meant so much to me."  See also Andrea Weightman's page
See also St Giles' School
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The Moores Go West
Pete Moore's 12 years in Ashtead have been arguably the most memorable of his life. | |
After gaining his PhD in Reading, Pete moved to Ashtead in 1991 and married Adèle a year later at St George's Church.
With Adèle working at the Leatherhead Food Research Association and Pete increasingly spending more time writing popular science books, the couple became well-known figures in the community.
Many of you will have read if not seen Pete's work as former editor of
 , but Pete has also been an enthusiastic member of the Mole Valley Speakers and has sat on numerous church committees over the years.
Pete, Adèle and their three children Tim (7), Joshua (3) and Daniel (seven months) left Ashtead in May. He will miss Ashtead but looks ahead encouragingly at life at the other end of the M4, with the family currently based at Thornbury, near Bristol. "What I will miss are the friendships carved over many years - but I won't miss the M25 and the planes flying overhead," he said. "Tim and Joshua are missing the vibrant young people's activities at church." Pete lectures occasionally at Trinity College, Bristol in two areas - Ethics and Communications. He plans to continue writing. His latest book Blood and Justice looks at the first blood transfusion, carried out in Paris back in 1668 and is available from all good book shops!
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Katie Hart Goes East
We said goodbye to Katie Hart in Easter 2001. Having returned from training last November, Katie is waiting to leave for south west China. | |
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Katie intends to live with the Yi people, a minority group living 8,000 feet up in the mountains in Sichuan province.
There is a great need for improved healthcare and education for those who cannot afford to pay.
Katie is going with MSI Professional Services and, although a dietician, she is likely to become involved in a wider range of healthcare tasks.
"I am very excited" says Katie. MSI also pays for girls' schooling, and runs various projects such as sheep lending and teaching practical skills.
Before all this, Katie needs to be able to communicate effectively and will spend her first two years learning Mandarin in Kunming City, in Yunnan province. Katie is committed to spending six years away in total and is expecting many challenges. "I am praying that God will provide me with a British friend," explaining that this would make things easier initially. There have been lengthy delays to Katie's departure, with China being the fourth possible destination. Despite this she says "I am absolutely confident that this is the road I should be travelling. "The fellowship of the Christian community in Ashtead will be particularly missed. Katie is expecting to leave by September, once the SARS crisis is over. "Harvest marks the start of my favourite time of year" Katie says, observing that the changing seasons enhance the beauty of our land.
See also Mission Partners
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Louise & Tony Hargreaves Go Dutch!
Louise and Tony Hargreaves are leaving Bradford to work in Amsterdam's Red Light District. | |
Louise will be a familiar face to some, having grown up in Ashtead, attending local schools and St George's Church, before moving on to work as a speech therapist in Bradford, where she met Tony.
They married three years ago and have an 8-month old girl, called Amaris.
Tony and Louise are leaving at the end August to work for the organisation Youth With a Mission (YWAM), which aims to communicate Christianity. YWAM has been established in Amsterdam for over 30 years, building relationships with prostitutes and those with addictions, operating drop in centres and setting up other initiatives for the community. The couple hope they will be able to live in the red light area and are very excited about working together as a family. "We believe we are called as a family to mission" says Louise. "Mission is not just for people with no ties; some people expect you to go off and travel and then come back to settle down, but mission and having a family can be a way of life." They are aware of challenges ahead such as a new environment that may be quite intense at times, and a new language. However, they see their future in long-term Christian mission work and intend to stay in Amsterdam for at least two years. Their experience will prepare them for perhaps moving further afield. "We trust God will give us both a desire in our hearts for the place to go next" says Louise." See also Mission Partners |
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