About 20 members of the Tweenies Club went on a week-end Retreat to the Convent of the Sisters in East Cowes. In August the Bishop of Sekondi in Ghana, who was attending the Lambeth Conference, came and preached at the Sunday service. Finally in October a Parish Weekend was held in Ostend which included visits to Bruges and Brussels.
The stage presentation this year was ‘An Irresistible Review’ produced and directed by Jane Rice-Oxley; many members of the congregation put on 25 very different sketches often with singing and music accompaniment.
Richard Spurgeon replaced Tony Rice-Oxley as Churchwarden joining Margaret Symonds who was the standing warden.
In the autumn the church began a major Time and Talents audit. People were asked to register just what church activities and jobs they could be involved in and also examine their contributions carefully. Subjects included Church watch, Refreshments, Choir, Gardening, Church cleaning and Pastoral care.
2009 saw the church Quota increase yet again to £49,541 which represented a great challenge to the Church Treasurer. Fund Raising events included a Burns Night Supper in January and an International Gourmet Evening in March.
The regular St George’s Production this year was Eurovision Revisited produced by Lynda Sheffield. Yet again a large number of the congregation gathered to produce a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
The Music Festival attracted 3500 people and in July a Songs of Praise evening in the church was well attended.
At the end of October Jane Rice-Oxley and a band of volunteers organised a very successful Charity Shop over a 10 day period which raised £4,000 for church funds.
Sadly the summer was overshadowed by the death from cancer of Sue Palmer a long term choir member and leader of the St Georges Church Band. This came as a great shock to all the congregation. Don Lloyd, an ex Royal Marines bandmaster, agreed to take over leadership of the band assisted by Julia Spurgeon another choir member.
