 Week
of Prayer forNadir Dinshaw, one of our original Sponsors, died on 12 December 2002 at the age of 76 years. He was born in Karachi, and acknowledged the early influence of his Zoroastrian grandmother in forming his lifelong habits of prayer and systematic generosity. He went on, however, to become a Christian, of the Anglican variety. His family provided him with an English education, first at Brighton and then at Harrow School. He returned to Karachi and studied English Literature at Bombay University. In 1959 he settled in Jersey with his wife and daughter. Among his benefactions was the Chair of Inter-Religious Relations in the University of Birmingham.. New sponsors co-opted at the meeting were Philip Austin, of the Northern Friends Peace Board, who has given us so much help with setting up our web site, Imam Mohammad Ahmad Ovaisi, the Muslim Chaplain at Heathrow Airport, Mr. Sidney Shipton, Secretary of the Three Faiths Forum, and Dr. Natubhai Shah, of the Jam community. Mr. Om Parkash Sharma was re-elected as Chair, the Revd. Megumi Hirota was re-elected Vice-Chair, and Mr. Nonnan Taylor was re-elected Hon. Treasurer. I was re-elected Hon. Secretary. Other members elected to the committee were Ervad Rusi Bhedwar, Maggie Brizzi, the Revd. Fergus Capie, the Revd. Professor Dr. Roger Grainger, Mrs. Joyce Meadows, Ms. Carmel Momen, Imam Mohammad Ahmad Ovaisi, Mr. Martyn Payne, Sister Regina of the Brahma Kumaris, Mr. Sidney Shipton and Mr. Param Sandhu. We are grateful to Ms. Carmel Momen for the work she has done and continues to do as Minute Secretary. The Chairman reported on the inter faith gathering for prayer for peace held at the Neasden Hindu Temple on 20th October 2002. The spiritual head of the Temple, Atmaswarup Swami, gave a speech of welcome, to which our Chairman made a reply. Mrs. Jean Wilson presented the Gordon Wilson Peace Award to the registered charity "Medical Aid for Iraqi Children". Mrs. May Al-Daftari, chairperson of the charity, made a speech of acceptance and thanks. The original award of 250 pounds was augmented by donations and a retiring collection to a grand total of 505 pounds. The gathering for prayer for peace 2003 will be held on Sunday 19th October at 3 p.m. at the Hounslow Mosque, by kind invitation of the Mosque Committee and Imam Nisar Ahmed Hussain Sulaimani. This will be the first time since our foundation in 1974 that our annual gathering for prayer has been held in a mosque. We are grateful to Mr. Mohammad Abrar-ul Hoda, of the Muslim society "Mathematics" for making the initial approach to the mosque on our behalf. The number of prayer leaflets printed in 2002 was 12,000. Our Administrator, Trudie Charles, reports that this was just sufficient to meet the orders received. We have ordered the same number for 2003, and your first copy is enclosed with this newsletter. I say "first copy" because all Sponsors are invited to get the sales of the leaflet off to a good start by purchasing fifty or a hundred for themselves, to be distributed at their own discretion. Sponsors and other supporters are also encouraged to arrange meetings in their own areas for those who cannot attend the main inter faith gathering organised by the committee. As soon as the prayer leaflet for one year is produced, work begins straight away on the leaflet for the next year. All Sponsors and other supporters are asked to send prayers, Scripture readings and meditations from your own faith resources to the Revd. Dr. Roger Grainger, 7 Park Grove, Horbury, Wakefield WF4 6EE, telephone 01942 272742. Donations towards the cost of this newsletter may be sent to our Treasurer, Mr. Norman Taylor, 98 Merewood Road, Bexleyheath DA7 6PQ. Other correspondence should be sent to me, SIDNEY HINKES the Hon. Secretary WPWP, at 1 The Bungalow, Bremilham Road, Malmesbury 5N16 ODQ. Next year's AGM will be on 10th March 2004. SIDNEY HINKES |