Couple Are Winners in Newton Abbot

Bert and Melinda moved to Newton Abbot Ward in the Plymouth Stake in 1991. Bert has now retired, but Melinda plans to work until 2001 when the couple hope to serve a full-time mission. Until then both are keeping fit and active as members of the Newton Abbot Bowling Club. Melinda appears to hit the club by storm, as is shown in this write-up in the Herald Express: "If you have never heard of Melinda Whalley before today, you may be forgiven. They have only just learned how to spell her name at Newton Abbot, when they found themselves crediting her with winning no less than five Club competitions. It has sent the Club archivists searching back to the year 1911, the year the club was founded, to see if this has ever before been achieved - and it doesn't look like it has. An amazing and outstanding performance, particularly by a relatively new, though clearly talented bowler. Well done Melinda" (22 September 2000).

Melinda won the following trophies. Lady's Two Wood, Lady's Pairs Winner. Club Pairs Winner, Shield Winner and Lady's Handicap Winner. Bert has been picked this year to represent Devon Patrons in a tournament versus Cornwall Patrons at Bowls and also represented Devon Veterans at Golf during the 2000 season.

Bert and Melinda are now preparing the Christmas meal for the Bowling Club, an event which they organised last year. At last year's dinner, the couple performed a duet of "When He Comes Again", thus sharing their missionary spirit with all their bowling friends. - Dot Yabsley, Newton Abbot Ward, Plymouth Stake

Newport Gwent Ward Organises Afternoon out for Battered Wives and Their Children

Newport Gwent Ward in the Cardiff Stake held its first Make a Difference Day. Three of the Young Women, working under the direction of the activities chair, Sister Hazel Griffiths, organised an afternoon out for the residents of a local refuge for battered wives and their children. The 10 mothers and their children assembled at the local YMCA where they were received by 16 ward members. Children over ten played ten pin bowling while 17 younger children were entertained to games. Their mothers were treated to a beauty workshop. Refreshments were provided, and the surplus food was taken to a residence for the homeless. - Trevor Dawe, Newport Gwent Ward, Cardiff Stake

Welsh Historical Sites Pamphlet

The first official Church mission to Wales began in 1840 when Elder Henry Royle was assigned to take the gospel to the village of Cloy, now part of Overton in North Wales. Llanelli in South Wales is the site of the first chapel built in Great Britain. This chapel is still standing at 20 Island Place near the town centre. Merthyr Tydfil was the site of the greatest growth of the Church in Wales, growth attributed to the work of Elders William Henshaw and Dan Jones in the 1840s and 1850s.