Pellice , Claudio Pasquet ( Giulia ’ s husband ). I soon made other friends , including a lovely , but rather eccentric , English ex-missionary , Diana Beerbohm , with whom I played a weekly game of Scrabble ( or two ) in English — using an Italian set with far too many vowels and no J , K , W , X or Y !
The time flew by and so when it came to the end of my year , I just couldn ’ t leave and it was decided I would stay on . After a brief trip home to see family and friends , my Church family and friends in Barnet agreed to support me for another year in conjunction with the AEV , the Protestant Volunteer Association in Italy .
I returned and picked up where I had left off , working in the Library ( cataloguing one of the biggest and finest collections of Bibles in Europe ), helping Gabriella Ballesio in the Waldensian Archives , translating guides to the various Waldensian museums , interpreting at Synod , accompanying English-speaking groups round the museums and historical sites .
I also carried on attending Church services , Bible Studies and singing with the Church Choir , including some tours , helping with the Pre-catechism classes . In the summer of 1993 I joined the leadership team of a series of summer camps for young people at Bagnau , high up in the Waldensian Valleys — something I loved so much I continued to be involved with for another four years after my return to England . A number of the young people from these camps are still friends — including Sara Rivoira , one of our speakers at the Zoom Awayday held in January .
Sadly , you can ’ t be a volunteer forever and despite being offered a grant to study at the Waldensian Faculty of Theology , I came home to continue being a Librarian and was invited to join the English Committee of the WCM as a trustee . My years on the Committee have seen many Pastor Tours , some of whom have also visited my church , many very interesting speakers at Awaydays , an amazing event in 2005 at Methodist Central Hall to celebrate the 450th anniversary of the Piedmontese Easter , when the Waldensians were slaughtered causing Oliver Cromwell to intervene to their aid , and this year a very successful first , an Online Awayday via Zoom .
There are so many highlights of my 30-year association with the Waldensian Church over and beyond the amazing 2½ years I actually spent in Torre Pellice . Four choir tours of the Valleys by my British Christian Choir , Adoramus , which included many concerts in the churches of the Valleys and one in the beautiful medieval abbey at Staffarda . Being a delegate at Synod ( more than once !). Having articles published in the Waldensian newspaper , Riforma ( and of course the Waldensian Review !). Being part of many 17 February and 15 August celebrations . One friend ’ s daughter recently commented , ‘ You are more Waldensian than we are !’ Being the guest at several confirmation services , weddings and , more recently and sadly , funerals . Enjoying hosting friends visiting London — one Pastor and family camped in my garden ! Several friends have come to improve their English and now their children are coming to do work experience with me . Seeing one of my Waldensian friends marry a friend from
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