Steyning Methodist Church:
District Youth Weekend 2002

ALTERNATIVE ALTON 5th and 6th May

Problems this year: The District Weekend had to be cancelled because the School at Clapham was unavailable at the last minute, and alternative arrangements could not be made. No badge this year! However, we decided that we would go ahead with whatever we could, and contacted our old Minister Rev Jean Simmonds, now Superintendent of the Farnham and Alton Circuit. The Alton Church hall was available for the Bank Holiday weekend, so we went for it.

Liz, Cathy, Rob and Linda took 11 youngsters (Anna-Fiona, Matthew, Alexander, David, Amanda, Stuart, Christopher, Ben, Kathryn, Sarah and Jane) and roughed it on the Alton Methodist Church Hall floor. We even managed to make contact with Carrie, now at University in Oxford, who came down to join us for Saturday night and Sunday morning.

We invaded Birdworld, near Farnham, for the Saturday afternoon, and we were all fascinated by the different types of birds on show - from owls to cassowaries. Kathryn was invited up to join in with a presentation of three birds, and to hold worms to feed them with. Surprisingly - she did!

We went back to Alton Church Hall for tea, served by our willing 'staff' (Liz and Linda), after which we devised a few silly games to burn off some steam. We had also arranged some extra food for the kids to have a midnight feast with, but it turned out that the boys purloined it all and started early. When the girls found out, we had rather more silly games than we expected!

On Sunday morning we went for a walk-about through Alton town centre while the early-morning service was being held. We found the park in the middle, and held an impromptu game of football. After this we went back and joined in with the Church's normal morning worship at 10:30, singing a few songs before the service started, and one in particular while the collection was taken. Then, after lunch, we drove into Guildford and spent the afternoon in the Guildford Spectrum swimming pool, with wave machine and flumes.

All in all it was a great weekend, although we missed mixing with all the other kids from the District. The good news is that Clapham have not been disheartened by the booking problems, and intend to host next year's event anyway. Look out for more news next year!