Looking Back - Lulu Ties Knot With Bee Gee

On this day in 1969, hundreds of people clamoured to see the marriage of popstars Lulu and Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees in a Buckinghamshire church.
Lulu, 20, had hoped to keep her wedding plans secret but around 1,000 people - mostly women and girls - filled the grounds of St James' Church in Gerrards Cross.
Several children were hurt as the crowd - that had waited for an hour - surged forward when Lulu arrived in her green Rolls Royce, 20 minutes late.
Wearing a long, white, mink-trimmed coat with fur hood and a white, silk mini-dress, Lulu - born Marie McDonald McLaughlin - begged onlookers to let her through, saying, "Please let me in, please let me in."
As police formed a cordon to allow the bride to reach the church, Maurice Gibb - also wearing white - waited inside with his best man, twin brother Robin, who was married only three months ago.
The third Gibb brother, Barry, arrived 10 minutes later, after earlier objecting to the wedding saying the couple was too young.
The Bee Gees and the bride were the only celebrities at the small, family wedding.
Plans for family
After a half-hour service - presided over by Reverend Gordon Harrison - the newlyweds were trapped in the church for another 10 minutes until a path had been cleared to their waiting car.
They spent a few minutes at the 19-year-old groom's parents' house in Gerrards Cross before travelling to London for their reception.
After a one-day honeymoon Lulu plans to return to work on her BBC television series.
She says she wants to cut down on her work-load to concentrate on her family and wants lots of children.
The daughter of a Glaswegian butcher, Lulu has already enjoyed a successful singing career for five years - beginning with number one single, Shout.
She will represent the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest in March.

Lulu shared victory at the 1969 Eurovision Song Contest in Madrid - in a four-way tie - with her song Boom-Bang-A-Bang.
Lulu and Maurice Gibb separated in April 1973, when Lulu said the marriage was not working, but emphasised there was no-one else involved.
Over her 36-year career Lulu has enjoyed 16 top 40 hits and became a familiar face on UK television.
In June 2000 she was awarded an OBE.
Over five decades the Bee Gees had record sales of £110 million worldwide and are one of the top five most successful recording artistes of all time.
The Bee Gees were awarded CBEs in the 2002 New Years Honours list.
Maurice Gibb died of a heart attack in Miami in January 2003, aged 53.

Animal Crackers

"If you say Polly put the kettle on, just once more ........"

The Monks Of Caldey Island

The Caldey Community 2010

(click on image to enlarge)

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Monks first came to Caldey in the 6th Century. Pyro, the first abbot is remembered in the island's Welsh name, Ynys Byr. Pyro was followed by St Samson, from the Celtic monastery at Llantwit Major. Viking raids may have ended this settlement in the 10th Century.
In the 12th Century Benedictines from St Dogmaels, Pembrokeshire, set up a priory on the island. They remained until the Dissolution in 1536. Much of their medieval priory is still standing.
In 1906 pioneering Anglican Benedictines purchased Caldey and built the present Italianate style abbey which now towers above the village. They were received into the Roman Catholic Church in 1913. Their stay was relatively short, financial difficulties forcing them to sell in 1925.
The present monks of Caldey Abbey are Cistercians, a stricter, contemplative offshoot of the Benedictine Order. They came from Scourmont Abbey in Belgium in 1929, re-establishing the strong Cistercian tradition in Wales. (13 monasteries before 1536).
For many years they strove to establish themselves and overcome the inherent difficulties of farming an island. The development of the perfume industry and tourism eventually brought them financial independence.
The community remained spiritually strong throughout, even when their numbers became dangerously low in the early eighties. Since then there have been many new vocations and the community continues to thrive.

The Highway Code

Keep your eyes on the road at all times!

Church Bulletin

Attend and you will hear an excellent speaker and heave a healthy lunch.

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This evening at 7 p.m. there will be a hymn sing in the park across from the church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.

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Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B. S. is done.

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The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday, 'I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours."