Rosehill Evangelical Mission

In the new photo gallery: pictures of events around Trevor Austin's visit in November 2010, including the new tailoring centre; and a couple of shots from Christmas celebrations at the Mission.

Pastor Babu reports that the Rosehill Free Tailoring Centre project in Gadala, using sewing machines donated by the Workaid charity, is going well. Forty women are now getting training at the Institute in Gadala.

A series of three festival/concerts was held in the south of England in Spring 2010, given by fellowship bands.

A total of £4,500 was raised in High Wycombe (Central London Fellowship), Tunbridge Wells (South London Fellowship) and Portsmouth (Gosport Fellowship) by bands and soloists (Chris Deacon, Dudley Bright, Julian Poore and Kayte Harding) who gave of their time and talents freely.

With the help of this financial boost we are hoping to buy the site adjacent to the Rosehill Home in Gadala A.P. to build a school. Watch this space.

On the evening of Saturday 22nd May the inaugural Rosehill Lecture was given in Beaconsfield by Rev Lyndon Bowring, director of Care, accompanied by his wife Celia. Celia introduced us to the work of Care prior to the lecture ‘Christianity in a collapsing culture’, which was heard by an appreciative audience. Beaconsfield Brass was in attendance.

A capacity crowd at the Royal Tunbridge Wells Salvation Army Corps enjoyed a wonderful evening of music provided by the South London Fellowship Band, under the direction of Major George Whittingham. From the sparkling rendition of the opening march ‘Keep Singing’ to the moving finale, Eric Ball’s ‘The Kingdom Triumphant’, a very high standard of performance was maintained; perhaps only to be expected from this group of committed bandsmen. The programme was varied, with items ranging from the contemplative arrangement of ‘Psalm 91’ from Mendelssohn’s ‘Elijah’ by our own Derek Jordan, to a cornet ensemble ‘Over here, over there’, based on folksongs from the UK and the USA by Norman Bearcroft, and to the sublime ‘Just as I am’ by Wilfred Heaton. We also enjoyed the singing of the band, featuring Les Swift as soloist and a thought-provoking Bible comment by Roger Gadsden.

Special guest for the evening was Dudley Bright, principal trombonist of the London Symphony Orchestra and a Salvationist at the Regent Hall Corps. Dudley thrilled us with his technical virtuosity and expressive playing in ‘Concertino for Band and Trombone’ and ‘A Never-failing Friend’ both by Erik Leidzen. The obvious rapport between band and soloist enhanced these items, which were very warmly received.

The proceeds of the evening were in aid of the Rosehill Evangelical Mission. Trevor Austin, who made the moving appeal, was presented with a cheque for £3,030.00 at the end of the programme.

(Republished with kind permission from the
South London Fellowship Band site)

The Workaid charity has kindly donated 10 sewing machines to be sent to Gadala at the end of March.

The first of our series of fundraising concerts got off to a good start in Wycombe on 6th February with the London Central Fellowship Band (David Daws) and guest soloists Chris Deacon (trumpet) and Debbie Crane (vocals), who thrilled a near capacity audience. 

The evening turned out to be the last public appearance of Col Ray Bowes (R) whose gracious presence was acknowledged, but who sadly died a few days' later.