Five minutes with Beryl Dyer -

Christian faith in action
Beryl’s reassuringly cheerful face (right) will be familiar to everyone at St Mary’s. An Elder and Server, she’s a key figure at Parish Eucharists, a reliable stalwart who assists the clergy.
But there’s far more to her life than that …

M  You do so much at St Mary’s, quite a list!

B  Well, I sit on the Deanery Synod and PCC – also on the Strategic Planning Committee, which is working on some exciting new initiatives. We are hoping to start a crèche, for example, and we’ve found eight families who are interested. As well as the mums, I want to find some surrogate grandmothers to help, nice for them and the children.

M  So what have you been up to lately?

B  Today I ran the Parish Coffee Morning. I enjoy chatting to the people who drop in – then cleared and cashed up. After that, I helped the Curate with the children’s confirmation class at his house. Now I’m here!

M  And I’m sure there’s far more.

B  Yes, there are the weddings, when I’m verger; it’s good to meet the bride and groom and make sure we do our best for them. And I help to plan the ecumenical Taizé services when they’re held at St Mary’s.

M  But what about your spare time, if any?

B  I help with the RNLI, 20 years as branch souvenir secretary, and with MENCAP and Martlesham Ladies’ Club, treasurer of both for 17 years. I like to support the East Anglian Children’s Hospices too. My hobby is cake decorating; I made eleven Christmas cakes this year, some for friends and family and some were raffled for charity.

M  So much voluntary work – what do you enjoy the most?

B  Best of all is being with people, all ages, helping and caring as much as I possibly can. It’s been a great privilege to be part of St Mary’s, for over 25 years now. Being an Elder is especially rewarding: I’ve learned a lot, and I love helping with Holy Communion at Seckford Almshouses.

M  A little bird tells me there’s a special date coming up this year.

B  Yes, Vic and I both retire completely and will be celebrating our 40^th Wedding Anniversary with a cruise around Norway in July. I’d never have been able to do so much for others without Vic; he’s a wonderful rock and support to me. He’s just taken over as St Mary’s Concerts Co-ordinator, by the way, something to keep him busy in retirement.

~ Mary Hodge