It is with great sadness that I write about the sad passing of Anne on May 6th and feel it is right to share some words in her memory.

Anne was Missioner and, on retirement, a volunteer for Darlington Town Mission. She put her absolute all into everything she did and was very passionate about our charity and most of all our Friends.

In her time as Missioner she changed greatly the way we reach out and support our Friends and wider community. She made us much more known in Darlington through Darlington Organisations Together for example and this continues.

She felt the need to have more regular monthly outings for our Friends, previously we just had the odd outing when we were able to get a minibus, but this was just for a few people. It led to what we have now, when at least 30 friends attend each monthly outing with volunteer drivers. Anne also saw the need for those who lived alone to have time together in a small group to establish and grow friendships, to share stories and support one another over a cup of tea and  lunch and formed the Friends Forum which still meets every fortnight at Park Place Community Centre. This has been a tremendous source of joy for our Friends past and present.

Anne really connected with our Friends and they loved her!

During her time as Missioner, she married Brian who became a volunteer and he and Anne on retirement worked tirelessly for our fundraising group, raising countless amounts of money for Darlington Town Mission but also establishing great links with people and places around the town.

Anne and Brian also continued to drive for outings maintains their friendships and contacts with friends and volunteers.

On a personal note, I met Anne when she became Missioner and I was a volunteer. She gave so much of herself to reach out for others in caring love. It was Anne who encouraged me to apply for my current post as Missioner and I will be forever grateful for this. She was a wonderful encourager to myself and Hilary in our work.

On diagnosis a few weeks ago, Anne asked me to look after her Mission and knew I would. We will all continue with the wonderful work and witness Anne dedicated so many years of her life too in her memory.

Thoughts and prayers are with Brian in these hard times for him and we are so pleased he will continue, when able, to volunteer for us.

The words of this wonderful hymn were very special to Anne and are to Brian and sum up her faith and Christian love. Rest in Peace and Rise in Glory lovely Anne, you will be so missed by us all but we are so thankful for you.

Make me a channel of your peace
Where there is hatred, let me bring your love
Where there is injury, Your pardon Lord
And where there’s doubt, true faith in you
 
Make me a channel of your peace
Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope
Where there is darkness, only light
And where there’s sadness ever joy
 
Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul
 
Make me a channel of your peace
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
It is in giving to all men that we receive
And in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Sue Allison, Missioner

Hilary Reaney, Assistant Missioner

Sue Case, Volunteer