Memories of CPW: Anne Dixon

As a small child I lived in a catholic culture. Catholic Family, Catholic Friends, Catholic School, Catholic Church so a Catholic holiday seemed a natural part of the fabric.

As the youngest of 5, I enjoyed having friends of my own age and seeing them only once a year gave them a mystical Brigadoon feeling. There was no social media then so, apart from two or three letters, we had almost no contact outside ‘the week’. I can remember the first time I met my friend Maura Waine (daughter of Mary and Walter Waine). She was the middle child of 5. We were 6 or 7 years old. It was at Stoneyhurst. We are still friends today.

So, friendships were deep and lasting and meaningful. Later, when I attended an Anglican secondary school, CPW became a place where I was less of a weirdo. The annual get together of the cool CPW kids (the especially cool kids coming from some exotic place called Cardiff) at Belmont was the highlight of my teenage years. The CPW family did not seem to mind my ’oddness’. In fact it was celebrated. We were all a bit odd together and we loved each other for it.

CPW became an extension of ‘family’ so when I met Malcolm it was obvious that I would introduce him to them. It must have been quite a culture shock for him! By then I had reached the dizzy heights of being a ‘helper’(the epitome of ‘cool’) and Malcolm became one too. We took over the childcare at the Rye St Anthony Easter and Summer Weeks.

My role models for twin chief helpers were Mary and Greg Hewitson whose romance had entranced all the teenagers at Belmont. When Malcolm and I became a family with baby Joe we knew that it was time to step over the line and join ‘the adults’.

Our first week was a camping week at Riddlesworth on Ecumenism. Joseph became firm friends with an adorable baby girl with a mass of curly hair - Delia Floyd, whose mother Helen was awesomely clever and erudite (and pretty).  Joe and Delia are still friends and meet up with their respective young families often.

The adult sessions were more engaging than I expected and the chance to meet up and talk about more interesting things than the bedtimes and eating habits of our children was a joy. More great friendships followed and a lifetime interest in ‘Faith seeking understanding’. Who wouldn’t want to do this? I love it.