ALBIN

ALBIN'S FUNERAL DIRECTORS
AND SUPPLIES

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Barry's News Page

Hello Web page followers!

Since I last spoke to you, we have undergone a major reconstruction of our forecourt area, which has now doubled in size. We have landscaped the edge of our garden, adding new lights and remounting one of our famous horse-drawn carriages from 1864 for all to see.

We are also now busy spring cleaning the Memorial garden and preparing it for the summer.

At night, this is all floodlit and is a real sight to behold!

I had planned to have a few days off at Easter, but on Good Friday as I was preparing for my visit to The Most Holy Trinity Church at Dockhead to attend Mass, I received a call from a Dutch Captain from the Dutch Ministry of Defence. One hour later I found myself on a Dutch battleship arriving in the Port of London.

Tragically, a member of the crew had suffered a heart attack. After dealing at great lengths with the Coroner and the police, we put together a full ceremony for the departure of the crew member from the ship.

Saturday followed with endless telephone calls and the preparation of documentation.

On Sunday morning, we met a Lynx helicopter belonging to the Dutch Naval Attaché and repatriated their colleague to Holland.

What a weekend – Never a dull moment at Albins!

On Monday I managed to rest and spend some time with my Grandchildren.

My thoughts and prayers as ever, go out to the family of the deceased crew member, whose lives will be changed forever because of his death.

As I write the web page today, we are about to deploy two teams to Iraq and Afghanistan simultaneously. One can only imagine the desperate thoughts of the families of the deceased. Again our thoughts and prayers are with them.

On Maundy Thursday in church, my prayers and thoughts were also with Rev. Nick Richards, who was with us at this time last year in the parish. He is sorely missed as ever.

As you can see in the photograph, this is the first day of summer as we change from our winter uniforms to our summer uniforms – very smart too I have to say.

My old friend John Donovan and I are in the process of arranging a party for the OAP’s in Bermondsey and Rotherhithe – plenty to eat and drink and lots of entertainment.

It is 20 years since our local newspaper The Southwark News began and we are linking the event as a birthday party for them also. More about that as we go along but at the moment it is planned for 29th September.

Our charity continues to raise money for the people of Bermondsey and Rotherhithe and also for The Evelina Children’s Trust and we are very grateful to Millwall FC, for allowing a Saturday collection day.

Bermondsey really is a special place full of special people.

Until next time,

Take care & best wishes