THANKS FROM MOLDAVIA

Nicoleta Olaru lives in an orphanage in Falticeni, near Suceava in Moldavia. This is an extract from a letter she wrote to Margaret after we had returned to England:

I remember delightfully the time spent together with you. I see afresh in my mind your amiable and kind face and I try to recall in my memory the moments of your travel, waiting from all my heart for you to come here again. I need your presence here and I wish to thank you 'cause you gave me the possibility to correspond with you. Here it's spring, the lilac is blooming, the sky renewed by the bird's chirrups. If you should want to reply to my letter I should dare to demand (ask) you to show me about your travels. I wish you a sunny spring and to come healthy along with your colleagues."

Pastor Pavel Cozmiuc is Pastor of the Baptist Churches of Bosanci and Falticeni, near Suceava. Here is an extract from his letter:

THE PROJECT IN BRIEF

"It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts of the Apostles, 20:35)

During the Easter holiday period in April 1990, the authors of this report took over 5 tons of relief supplies to orphanages and village churches in Moldavia, north-eastern Romania. The supplies were collected from individuals, churches, colleges, schools and hospitals in Yorkshire and North Derbyshire. We left England on Sunday 8 April and returned on Sunday 22 April, travelling over 4,000 miles in 15 days in a 7.5 ton Box Truck loaned from British Road Services in Huddersfield.

The supplies included nearly 1132 kg (1.132 tons) of food, 143 kg (320 lb) of medicines, 649 kg (1453 lb) of toiletries, 237 kg (530 lb) of shoes and boots, over 2750 kg (2.75 tons) of clothing and 96 kg (215 lb) of books and paper.

"Stumbling along the boundary between the tolerated and the forbidden. I stand amazed by the world. Even like this it's beautiful, with these half-words, in this ha/f-light, with a lock on the door." (Amy Karolyi)

Barry and Margaret cycled through western Romania during the summer of 1989 on their 2,500 mile ride to Istanbul. We passed through Arad and spent a night in Timisoara and experienced first hand the desperate conditions in which people were living at that time - the worst we have seen in Europe.

Conditions in the villages were medieval and the few shops we saw in the towns were literally empty. We were very glad to be able to go back after the December 1989 Revolution, to see the changes for ourselves and to do what we could to help.

The second visit to Romania was during February 1990 with a convoy organised by Venture Eastern European inter-denominational Christian group, headed by the prominent water-colour artist, Alfred Eagers. He had made several visits to Romania in the last 8 years, linking churches in Britain to churches in Romania, building up a network of contacts and sustaining the beleaguered church in and around Arad and Timisoara. Barry, Margaret and Keith Durham (of Grimsby College of Art and Technology) carried over 2 tons of relief supplies in a Budget Ford Transit Luton Box Van, joining the convoy of 24 assorted vehicles. We gave our supplies to two orphanages and the hospital in Arad and to four mountain villages around Minisel. A Report was produced following this visit, which generated the support we needed to make a third visit at Easter.

Jonathan Side, a student at Huddersfield Polytechnic, joined Barry and Margaret, Paddington Bear and a 7.5 ton BRS Box Truck on this 4,000 mile unaccompanied return to Romania. Over 5 tons of relief supplies were donated by the people and organisations listed at the end of this report.

We made contact with Julie and Colin Smith-Moorhouse of Huddersfleld and Roger Bancroft of Dean Head, Scammanden, who were preparing to take a very large quantity of supplies to Romania in early May. They planned to travel in convoy with other people from the Northern Office of the Jubilee Campaign and their target was a couple of orphanages south of Brasov in central Romania. In addition to taking food, clothing and medicine, they were to install toilets, wash basins and washing machines in the orphanages. Malcolm Grainge of Jubilee was very kind and helpful to us, allowing us to use their letterhead for documents we would need in Romania. Alfred Eagers, leader of the February convoy, gave us some very valuable contacts in Moldavia from his wide-ranging network of Romanian Baptists.

Cohn, Maria and Sebastian Wimpory of Ripon showed exceptional personal kindness by donating enough money to cover the cost of our diesel fuel on the journey - they ensured that we actually got there and back. Another major contribution came from Enid Covell of Honley, who motivated her school, the Howden Clough High School in Batley, to raise enough money to cover the hire of a large truck. Husband John Covell of Huddersfield Polytechnic and students on his Certificate in Education courses at the High Melton Campus of the Doncaster College also made a substantial contribution of supplies, time and encouragement. Ian Inglis and two of his three boys drove down from Scotland with a Ford Transit full of clothes and shoes carefully sorted, packed and labelled "with love from Scotland" - much of it donated by the staff and students of Perth College. Notable contributions also came from British Tissues of Oughtibridge (over a dozen large boxes packed with toilet rolls) and Trebor Bassetts Ltd (of Sheffield), who donated a small but extremely welcome box of assorted sweets.

As the supplies began to pour in, Mr Pearson, the Assistant Director of Kirklees Leisure Service, let us use a room in Paddock Village Hall as storage space, and our neighbours, Frank and Margaret Cooper, again threw open their garage doors (although they could hardly close them again). As our own garage, study, hall and living room also filled up, Benjamin Longley stepped in to let us use his store on the Colne Valley Business Park at Linthwaite, which proved ideal for sorting as well as storage. His connections with Project Furniture produced 100 large cardboard boxes, which took most of our clothes and some of the toys. They were much easier to handle and stack than dustbin bags and less likely to lead to damp, as well as holding 4 times as much - AND they didn't require the services of a vacuum cleaner!

This account cannot end without a very special word for British Road Services of Canal Street, Huddersfleld. Brian Brownsett, the Leeds Manager, responded quickly to our request for transport and offered us a 7.5 ton Ford Truck with a 20 foot box. John Gee, the Van Rental Operator for Huddersfield, handled the details and ensured that the vehicle was well serviced and ready on the day. Along with the truck came insurance, green card, international breakdown cover, a full tank of diesel and another 100 litres in cans in the back.

With a truck, supplies, fuel and a destination, all we needed was a ferry. After much research and a few false starts, we eventually chose Sally Ferries for the channel crossing. They offered Ramsgate to Dunkirk at half price for the truck; people travelled free. We were ready to go!

THE JOURNEY OUT - A DIARY OF EVENTS

"For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move." (Robert Louis Stevenson, Travels with a Donkey, 1879)

We collected the 7.5 ton Ford Cargo Box Truck (reg no F366 RVN) from BRS, Canal Street, Huddersfield at 9 am. Brian Brownsett, the Leeds Manager, and John Gee, Van Rental Operator for Huddersfield, handed the keys to Paddington Bear, who was to return to Romania with us. A photograph of this presentation appeared in the Huddersfield Examiner on Tuesday 10 April, featuring Barry, Margaret, Jonathan Side, John Gee and Paddington. Benjamin (Removals and Storage) Longley and his wife, Nancy, missed their photo opportunity, arriving at 9.25 am in their 35 cwt Renault van.

After a practice drive round the Huddersfield football ground with John Gee, and several false alarms with the extremely loud anti-theft device, Barry was ready to go and drove back home to Heaton Road, followed by Benjamin's van and Margaret's car.

We loaded Benjamin's van with the clothes and bedding which had been filling both our garage and that of our neighbours (Margaret and Frank Cooper). The food, toiletries and medicines stored in our house were loaded straight into the BRS truck on the road. Both vehicles were then taken to Benjamin's store at Colne Valley Business Park.

The BRS truck was now professionally (and fully) loaded by Benjamin, helped by Barry and Jonathan. Margaret kept the inventory. The loading of 100 Project Boxes of clothes (and a few toys), plus a large assortment of other boxes, cases and bags (nearly 300 boxes in total) was over by lunchtime and celebrated in bacon butties at the Business Park Cafe. It wasn't until we got on the weighbridge at Ramsgate that we discovered how successful we had really been!

Whilst we were loading the truck, Peter Firth from Doncaster had delivered a van-full of goods to our home - the last consignment to arrive! In the afternoon Margaret bought 20 lb of sweets from the market to supplement the box donated by Bassetts. Barry then had his first motorway practice, driving to BRS at Leeds to collect the 4 cans of diesel (about 20 gallons) they gave us. But, for some reason that still defies explanation, BRS told us that we wouldn't need a spare wheel! So we didn't take one.

"I always love to begin a journey on Sundays, because I shall have the prayers of the church, to preserve all that travel by land, or by water." (Jonathan Swift, Polite Conversation, 1738)

We left home at 9.15 am, collected Jonathan from Fartown (near Huddersfield's Rugby League ground) and drove to Ramsgate in spring sunshine, enjoying a prolonged lunch break with Eve and Jim at their home near Saffron Walden in Essex. The truck was quite comfortable and the main difficulty was remembering to notice height and weight restrictions on roadsigns. Our first night out was spent at Pauline's (No Poll Tax Here) Bed and Breakfast in Ramsgate, within sight of the sea.

We sailed on the Sally Line ferry at 11.30 am for a 2.5 hour crossing to Dunkirk. We got a slight shock to discover that our 7.5 ton lorry weighed 9 tons - Benjamin had done his job too well! However, no-one seemed to mind and, as we didn't mind either, an extra 1.5 tons of supplies headed for Romania.

Sally gave us a 50% discount on the normal fare and, because the vehicle was over 7 metres long, the driver was given a voucher for a free meal, drink and cabin. Our freight papers were prepared (at a cost of only £8) by the East Kent Freight Company, whose office was in one of the cabins at the ferry terminal. The T-form procedure had been simplified for Aid vehicles and there was no longer the need to pay a deposit and reclaim it on return. Personal insurance (AA 5-star) was taken out at the Sally Line office, costing £14.75 each.

At the terminal we met two other Aid vehicles taking advantage of Sally Line's discounted fares. In a slightly smaller BRS truck was an independent team from the south of England bound for the north-west of Romania. There was also a 35 cwt van with a team from Chichester, heading out to meet the Jubilee Campaign convoy in Belgium. (Three Jubilee vans had sailed on the earlier ferry that morning.) None of these had been before. The highlight of the crossing was the Smorgasbord Buffet.

We arrived at Dunkirk at 3.45 pm (French time - 1 hour ahead). Customs sent us to the Freight Office for the only formality - a white form which was a deposit waiver form specially for Romanian Aid vehicles. At the French/Belgian border we had to purchase two more copies of this form (costing 1 French franc each) - one for this border and one for the French/German crossing. The E40 motorway took us across Belgium, via Bruges, Ghent, Brussels and Liege, the only hold-up being the busy loop round Brussels. At the Belgian/German border we needed the deposit waiver form, the T-form, and they asked us to complete a Laufzettel (clearance chit) on which we declared how much diesel we had in the tank. The Customs move in mysterious ways their complex forms to fill. Overnight in the Hotel Buschhausen, Aachen.

We continued down the E40 (A4) motorway towards Cologne, turning off down the E31 (A61) past Koblenz, Mainz and Ludwigshafen. Then E50 (A6) to Heilbronn. Because of the Tachograph in the cab we had to watch the speed limits (50 mph on the Autobahn) and the 4.5 hour limit on driving, so were forced to take a 45 minute break at the service station at Sinsheim. The German police impose a spot fine of 80 DM (nearly £30) for speeding (and instant 14 day imprisonment for speeds more than 30 km in excess).

On and on . . . the E41 (A81) to Stuttgart, then E52 (A8) past Ulm and Augsburg almost to Munich (a break in the Autobahn system slows everyone and quietens their engines as they parade past Dachau), then on the Munich ring road and back onto the A8 to Salzburg. After the second 4.5 hour stint we took a break at the services between Munich and Rosenheim, then (naughtily) continued to Rosenheim, a Bavarian holiday resort just off the Autobahn, with a lovely backdrop of moonlit Alps. Overnight in the Hotel Ariadne, Rosenheim, where we enjoyed a birthday dinner for Margaret - Wiener Schnitzel, Banana Split and a Schoppen (giant glass) of wine.

"We are at rest five miles behind the front." (E M Remarque, All Quiet on the Western Front)

The weather had now changed and was snowing gently, despite the claim from the proprietors of the Hotel Ariadne that there had been no snow for the last two winters. The snow warmed to rain, but it remained colder than when we came in February.

The E52 (A8) took us steadily past the Bavarian Lake Chiemsee and over the border into Austria at Salzburg. We were neither weighed nor asked for our Tachograph - sighs of relief and tins of Coca Cola all round. Stopped at the services overlooking the Lake Mondsee, where the Soup of the Day came very expensive - beware Austrian prices! Continued on the Al motorway past Linz and St Polten, then the A21 ring south of Vienna and A4 past Vienna airport, leaving the motorway at Schwechat. Road 10 then leads to the border at Nickelsdorf, which we reached at 4.40 pm. We handed in the T-form at the Austrian post and then had to wait about 2 hours at the Hungarian side. We bought double transit visas (£31.80 each), diesel coupons (300 litres for £85.20) and currency (105 forints to the pound), and then had to queue with many other lorry drivers for our customs clearance papers. They wanted to know our registration number and the total tonnage carried.

We showed the letter in Hungarian provided by the Hungarian Embassy in London but it did not exempt us from visa fees (perhaps it asked them to increase the fees - who would know?). Eventually we obtained the two chits required to enter Hungary.

We had seen very few Aid vehicles on the road so far - a convoy of four Swiss near Vienna and one lone French vehicle. Continued through Hungary to Gyor where we revisited (our first visit was cycling through Hungary in the summer of 1988) the Hotel Klastrom, a very cheap, comfortably converted monastery. Their restaurant did an excellent Schnitzel and a novel version of chocolate pancakes - pancakes wrapped round a spoonful of cocoa powder!

IN ROMANIA – A DIARY OF EVENTS

"Really, this might be Roumania!" (Queen Mary)

We followed the M1 to Budapest and crossed the Danube on the Petofi-ho Bridge, the most southerly of the capital's 5 bridges. This time we spotted the right turn immediately after crossing the river and found the M5 towards Kecskemet. The motorway is unfinished but there were no problems following road 5 to Szeged and the last chance to buy bottles of orange and other provisions before Romania. We used 100 litres of diesel coupons filling the tank and then on to the busy border at Nagylak. The Hungarian guard only required the 2 forms we were given on entering Hungary and we were through in 10 minutes. There was no Romanian visa fee for Aid vehicles, we simply completed an exit form and were through in another 45 minutes. A small German van behind us was bringing chocolate Easter Hares, sweets and food for the orphanage in Arad from a German association for Romanians.

By 6 pm Romanian time (another hour ahead) we were driving towards Arad and the home of Dan Fizedean, our host in February. Our helpers included a crowd on the pavement of the main street, a map fetched from a nearbly flat, a passing motorist who knew the way and then got lost, and a police car who rescued us all and led a procession into Dan's street at about 7 pm. We were delighted to see his parents with Pastor John, Mihai Stoica's family and Doru Radu gathering for the evening service outside the church: all people we knew from our February visit. Their amazement matched ours. We were not expected, but Dan's parents missed the church service to take us to their nearby home and prepare supper. There was a lot of talking in both languages, phone calls, happy confusion. We knew at once we had a home in Arad.

The truck was noticed by Tony Green and Robert Messer, a pair of BBC Television Centre Security Guards with another BRS truck from Luton. They were about to return to England after spending 4 days visiting orphanages in and around Arad. They came into Dan's house for a talk and confirmed that free diesel was available in Arad, and otherwise could be bought cheaply using Lei. They had found a need for disinfectant and medical supplies at the girls' home in Arad; for food and vitamins at an orphanage in Lipova; and for nappies, baby food and medicines at a maternity hospital in Lipova. They had stayed at the Astoria Hotel in Arad free of charge for 2 nights but had then moved out, because it was full for Easter, and stayed with friends.

The day ended with our first problem (and it's not Friday the 13th until tomorrow) - whilst parking the truck behind the church in the dark, the silencer and its pipe parted company with the engine. However, we did not let that spoil a welcome night's sleep.

Dan and his father, Teodor, went in to work at the usual time of 7 am and returned for Barry at 8 am, having arranged for the silencer to be fixed at Teodor's works. The silencer box had survived but the long pipe connecting it to the engine was in spaghetti loops. However, a straight steel pipe was slowly persuaded to emulate the original pipe, with much sawing, heating, banging and smoking of Sally Ferries duty-free cigarettes. This was an amazing morning's work resulting from years of practice at improvisation. It was a good Friday.

Margaret and Jonathan spent the morning exploring Arad, where there was more activity on the streets than previously - small markets selling a few trinkets and vegetables, with women queuing for bread and crowding round the single butcher's to buy their Easter provisions from the small selection of salami and heavily smoked meats. There was still no refrigeration, no dried foods, no tinned foods, no fresh foods - just the usual rows of jam jars containing pickled vegetable preserves.

Outside the town hall in Arad was a small shrine with wreaths and candles and a plaque listing the names of the 21 people killed on 22 December 1989 (19 from Arad and 2 from Bucharest). Three French Aid vehicles hid shyly in the guarded compound behind the town hall.

At 3 pm Pastor John returned from work and invited us to his home for a meal, along with Dan and Doru Radu. John's wife, Mimi, supplied a festive meal of soup, pork and mashed potatoes and a splendid Easter cake with strawberries; Doru and Dan supplied the humour with some topical jokes. (Example: A Capitalist, a Socialist and a Communist had a meeting. The Socialist apologised for being late - he'd been waiting in a cheese queue. The Capitalist immediately asked "what's a queue?"; the Communist wanted to know "what's cheese?").

John's children, Daniel and Lygia, were also there. John had recently passed his driving test and now has a 12-month probationary period, with exclamation mark signs in the car windows to prove it.

After eating, we went to Mihai Stoica's home to unload about half a ton of supplies for Pastor John's people in the mountain villages above Arad. We left 15 large boxes of children's and baby clothes, children's shoes, some food, towels and bedding, toiletries, toilet rolls and toys. Down to being only one ton overloaded! Dan then took us to a Motel, back towards the Hungarian border, which was "co-ordinating" the free hotel rooms and fuel for Aid vehicles. They did not issue us with any papers; our letter from the Jubilee Campaign seemed to be acceptable. We immediately and successfully tested this by using it to fill up with free diesel at the Peco station on the way into Arad - easily found by looking for a one-mile queue of identical Dacia (ie Renault 12) cars.

"It is good to be out on the open road, and going one knows not where. Going through meadow and village, one knows not whither nor why." (John Masefield, Tewksebury Road)

After a good Romanian breakfast of cheese, boiled eggs, salami and sausage (these last home-made from the Fizedean's own former pig) we were taken to see the site of Doru Popa's promised new Baptist church, a wasteland among hostile blocks of flats.

We then drove north on the 79 to Oradea and turned east on road 1 (or E60) to Cluj-Napoca. After Oradea the scenery began to tilt upwards, with flocks of sheep and shepherds and one climb of 1 in 10 with well-graded hairpin bends down. In Cluj there were many blocks of flats being hastily built, presumably to house the people displaced from the villages around. At Cluj we turned north on road 1c (E576) to Dej, then road 17 to Bistrita. Children greeted us in every village along the route and we were soon 10 lb of sweets lighter. We passed a long German convoy of about 50 small vehicles from Frankfurt, who had brought food and clothes and seed potatoes, sunflower seeds, etc for planting. There were many storks pairing and nesting and a feeling of spring and hope for this first free Easter.

Bistrita, on the border of Transylvania and Moldavia, was the setting for Bram Stoker's tale of Gothic horror - Dracula. We spent the night at the Hotel Coroana, named after the 'Golden Crown' where Stoker's hero, Jonathan Harker, stayed. Unlike him, we had a free room and a packed tea each, though no other food or drinks were available. We passed the food on to 3 boys who showed us round but they were disappointed that it contained gherkins (again) rather than the much sought- after bananas. Two Austrian Red Cross vehicles and two Dutch vehicles were also there. The Zeffirelli film 'Jesus of Nazareth' was being shown on Romanian TV with subtitles. The filling station in Bistrita charged us for our diesel in Lei after a lot of US$-based hassle. The 'rules' appear to be open to local interpretation.

"Give me, 0 God, the Moldavian's wisdom last". (Romanian Proverb)

A wonderful drive through the Carpathian Mountains in spring sunshine - over the Birgau Pass (1227 metres or about 4,000 feet) to Vatra Dornei on road 17 (E576). There was still snow at the top of the pass and the forbidding Dracula Hotel, erected where Stoker sited the Count's Castle at the 'Borgo Pass'. Many delightful children were out in their best dress for Easter Sunday, carrying little baskets of painted hard-boiled eggs in plain colours (usually dark red signifying Christ's blood) or with simple flower patterns. We were touched to be given some in exchange for the chocolate eggs we were handing out. The climbs were well graded, though the road surfaces were rough and bumpy bringing average speed down to 20 mph.

Between Iacobeni and Pojorita we climbed another pass (1099 metres) and continued on the E576 to Suceava, through beautiful mountain scenery and villages built mainly of wood. We then turned south to Falticeni, 24 km south of Suceava, where we found the home of the Hapenciuc family: Otilia, Dina, Dominica, Otniel and Mariana Bilec. The father, Orest (our contact name - see database), was not at home but the rest of the family made us extremely welcome with food and drink and presents of crochet work. Otilia had a little French and this gave us the possibility of verbal communication (the non-verbals were taking care of themselves). They rang a relation, Mircea Mitrofan, in Suceava (see database) who spoke excellent English and promised to take us to the Baptist church in Suceava for evening service and to arrange distribution contacts in the villages round Dorohoi, where his cousin was a pastor. We therefore returned to Suceava and took (free) rooms for 2 nights at the Hotel Bucovina, breakfast included.

The 6 pm service at the Baptist Church was taken by Pastor Dan Boingeanu (see database) with 2 other English guests: Tony Johnson and Michael Cullen from Farncombe Baptist Church in Surrey. They had come in an ancient VW van on a 3-week mission, bringing bibles, aid and a video camera. Barry spoke to the congregation (with Mircea translating) about the changes we had seen on our 3 visits to Romania. We met Cezar Popescu (see database) turning the service into his first video epic. He spoke good English and became our key link with 3 orphanages in the area.

Mircea was one of 7 brothers (only 2 of whom had brides) and his father and uncle were also pastors. His wife, Roxana, was expecting their first child (which must be a son) in 2 months' time. After the service he invited us to eat with the family at his mother's cottage, where 5 of his brothers and 5 female cousins were crowded round to watch the final episode of 'Jesus of Nazareth'. They spoke of their amazement that such a film could now be watched openly in Romania, and then proceeded to closely criticise its biblical accuracy! We dined on soup, painted eggs, rice parcels wrapped in cabbage leaves and special Easter cakes, washed down with a ginger-beer-like drink made from crushed pine cones! The 2-bedroom cottage was tiny, with no bathroom or toilet - simply a cold tap out in the open in the garden. And yet the 7 brothers had all been raised here.

"Ask nothing more of me, sweet; All I can give you I give". (Swinburne, The Oblation)

Easter Monday and a national holiday (for the first time). Cezar Popescu joined us at the Hotel Bucovina at 9 am and directed us first to the Leaganul de Copii, an orphanage in Suceava for babies aged 0-3 years (see database). Here Dr Petre was in charge of 80 babies in the home and another 200 babies in the area. We delivered over a ton of baby clothes, nappies, nappy pins, toys, toiletries, toilet rolls, baby food, bottles and feeding kits, baby medicines, thermometers and first aid supplies. Two of the babies were isolated with chicken pox and many others looked sick and listless. One pale, thin child who looked only a few months old was actually 2 years of age but had some deformity. All the babies were very wet as they had no nappies and most were thin and inactive. There was a caring atmosphere with pictures and cartoons painted on the walls but they appeared to have had no aid previously, despite being in the middle of a large town. The toddlers crowded round excitedly for contact.

We then went on to the nearby Casa de Copii Prescolari (see database) where Dr Mariana Dedeaga was in charge of 100 pre-school children aged 3-7 years. Here we left another ton of children's clothes and shoes, toilet rolls, soap, toiletries, medicines and first aid supplies, food and toys. The menagerie of giant toy animals was left in eager hands.

The third visit was to the Casa de Copii at Falticeni (see database), a home for 400 children aged 7-15 years. The children at first crowded round the truck in great excitement but were soon organised by their teachers to form a chain and unload over a ton of clothes and shoes, food, sweets, a sack of tennis balls, toys, framed pictures, toiletries, toilet rolls, medicines and first aid supplies. The children particularly asked for toothpaste. Margaret went across with Anisoara Capmare, one of the Directors, to make a phone call from her flat. She told us that this was the first such visit they had received. We toured the classrooms and dormitories and saw the children at lunch enjoying some of our fruit yogurts after an unappetising-looking meal.

In the afternoon Cezar left and we were joined by Mircea Mitrofan, who took us out towards the Russian border to the village of Dorohoi 50 km away, in the most deprived part of Moldavia. The houses looked very poor with only horses and carts on the roads. We left over a ton of food, clothes, shoes, tin openers, and toiletries at the Baptist church in Dorohoi, for distribution to 7 church groups in the neighbouring villages of Alba, Tataraseni, Havirna, Stinca, Negreni, M Kogalniceanu and Dorohoi itself. (The addresses of the church and its Pastor are given in the database.) We left all the remaining medical supplies with a Baptist nurse for the local hospital; the van was now almost empty.

The church in Dorohoi would very much like to be linked to a church in this country for fellowship and, among other things, it needs bibles and bible study packs, in English or Romanian, and English magazines and children's books. Gheorge Axinte (see database) would like a penfriend. We were made welcome with drinks and cake by the church women and the children enjoyed a ride round town in the truck cab.

In the evening we ate with Cezar Popescu and his wife at the home of her parents back in Suceava. The meal began with painted hard-boiled eggs and we were introduced to the custom of playing 'conkers' with them round the table to find the winner. A bowl of professionally decorated eggs was the centre-piece - though not for eating, as these were several years old! They were very colourful and intricately patterned and we shall treasure the two they insisted we took as a souvenir of Moldavia. The meal was a festive occasion with cold meat and cheese, rice-stuffed cabbage leaves, chicken, chips and a tot of some intense home-brewed spirit, followed by pots of tea and cakes. As ever we were amazed how full the table was, given how empty the shops appeared to be. Michael and Tony joined us at the end of the evening.

After the meal we watched the video epic which Cezar had produced of our visits to the orphanages. He had recently been in hospital for treatment for a blocked kidney. We learnt that dialysis is not available in Romania and there is only one doctor performing kidney transplant operations in Bucharest, with less than a 50% survival rate. We left the 5 boxes of books donated by Mr and Mrs Minnis of Ilkley with Cezar, to go to Iasi University where his wife is a student.

We left the Hotel Bucovina after our 2 free nights and set off back towards Arad, following our outward route via Cluj. After about 40 miles, at Gura Humorului, we turned off to visit the medieval monastery at Humor. This area of Moldavia, known as Bukovina, is famous for its 15th and 16th century monasteries painted with frescos inside and out for the enlightenment of the largely illiterate peasantry. The main examples are at Voronet, Humor, Argbore, Sucevita and Moldovita. The actual building was small, with Orthodox paintings on the outer and inner walls and ceilings and a roof of tiny wooden tiles. The bells were being rung as we arrived and we heard the traditional Easter rapping sound, made by beating a piece of wood (echoing the hammering of nails into the cross).

We were invited to "visitez house" by two women selling local embroidered cloths, blouses and lace. They were not too cut off from worldly pleasures to prefer payment in US$, but they did give us some butter and a bottle of fairly fresh milk (unseen since Austria). We also bought some wooden painted egg-cups from a local travelling salesman (on a bicycle), who laid out his wares on the ground under a tree. Hoping that he wasn't from the same family, we gave him the butter as a bonus and he gave us a free wooden spoon.

We then continued over the two passes and back to Cluj, travelling faster and easier now the truck was nearly 5 tons lighter. (Suceava to Bistrita took an hour less than on the outward journey, despite the detour to see the monastery!) We now had time to photograph the Carpathian Mountain villages with their wooden carved and painted houses, ornately roofed wells, tin effigies of Christ on wooden crosses and the nesting storks. In Cluj we stayed in the large, nameless Category I hotel in the centre. We obtained free rooms, dinner and breakfast only after going with the hotel bell-boy to the town's Securitate police headquarters (all leather jackets, large desks, echoing staircases, drawn blinds and dark glasses) to register and obtain a special form. They interviewed Barry and inspected our papers for a tense 15 minutes before the vital chit was stamped.

We had a meal to the sounds of a small orchestra with a superb fiddler. A convoy of uniformed and leather-booted German Malteser Hilfsdienst (similar to St John's Ambulance) occupied the hotel. Two Dutch doctors and their families arrived in dormobiles with trailers, after a 3-day journey from Holland. They were to visit hospitals in the Cluj area with medical supplies and children's toys and clothes. All the vehicles were being guarded in front of the hotel by heavily armed soldiers; there had been Hungarian ethnic troubles in Cluj, as well as in Tirgu Mures.

We had given out the remainder of our sweets and chocolate to children in the villages we passed through today - mothers had received sweet-smelling bars of soap. All that remained in the truck were the three Family Parcels.

We returned to Arad via Oradea, arriving at 3.15 pm with time to take some photographs, look at such shops as there were and buy Barry a black astrakhan hat. In the gardens behind the town hall the old lads were sitting round specially chequered tables to play chess and in a cafe we bought glasses of pop served with straws made of - straw!

We returned to Dan and his family and were joined later by Doru Radu and Pastor John and Mimi. We told our tales and exchanged presents and we added to our many good memories of Arad's Baptist community and their kindness to us. Dan's family hope to visit a cousin in Aschaffenburg, near Frankfurt, in the summer but are waiting for visas - they said 3,000 people had applied for them in Arad alone.

THE JOURNEY BACK – A DIARY OF EVENTS

"Half to forget the wandering and the pain, half to remember the days that have gone by, and dream and dream that I am home again!" (James Elroy Flecker, The Dying Patriot)

An early start, rising at 6.30 am so as to say goodbye to Dan and Teodor before they left for work. We left a Family Parcel with Dan's parents, for a family they knew who were without work, and gave the other two parcels and our remaining Romanian money to villagers on the way to the border. It took 35 minutes to cross the border into Hungary at Nadlac. We saw a Dutch convoy of two articulated lorries and a backup vehicle on its way out.

We crossed Hungary in pouring rain. In Kecskemet a lorry, overtaking on our inside, pushed us out slightly into the path of an oncoming lorry - resulting in a cracked nearside mirror. We saw the Danube yet again in Budapest and then on to Mosonmagyarovar, shortly before the Austrian border, for a meal. Here we had the second problem of the day with the truck. The burglar alarm insisted on going off 30 seconds after we left the cab. The only cure was to leave the key in the ignition! However, we left Paddington Bear covering and guarding it. We then continued without incident via Vienna to St Polten and the Pension Elisabeth. We had stayed here on our return journey in February and can recommend it as comfortable and (by Austrian standards) reasonably priced. We learnt there had been 3 Swiss lorries staying there the previous night on their way out to Romania

"Miles to go before I sleep; and miles to go before I sleep." (Robert Frost)

Another early breakfast and a long drive to the Rhine-side resort of Andernach. We followed motorway Al to Linz, then made an (unplanned) detour into Linz and followed the Danube on road 129 until we rejoined the motorway A8 and on to the German border, south of Passau. Here we were weighed, confirming the wisdom of taking the slightly longer route out via Munich and Salzburg to avoid such thorough checking. Now empty, we had nothing to fear! There was more formality than at the Austro-Hungarian border, with 20 minutes spent in queues clutching the pink Laufzettel form, which was issued at the weighbridge. It had to be stamped by Austrian customs, Bavarian police, German customs and finally at a clearance counter before we could leave, handing the Laufzettel back as we went. (Despite all the paperwork, no-one actually looked inside the truck to see if it was empty!) At the previous two borders there were no forms but a guard did check the truck - much simpler!

We filled up with diesel at the services soon after Passau. (Austria is the most expensive country en route so we avoided filling there. It was also useful to know that, in general, neither Germany nor Austria accept Visa or other plastic cards, preferring cash or Eurocheques). The rest of the day was spent on busy Autobahn A3 via Regensburg, Nuremberg, and Wurzburg to Frankfurt and on towards Cologne, turning off on the A48 to Koblenz, then road no 9 to Andernach, just north of Koblenz on the Rhine. Here we found an excellent Pension on the riverside, the Gastehaus Aggi Lorbach at nos 2 and 5 Konrad-Adenauer-Allee, complete with 11-channel TV and candle-lit breakfast. Proprietor Aggi told us the Catholic Wives League of Andernach (about 100 families) had raised 50,000 DM for Romania and sent a huge lorry of supplies.

Initially following road no 9 along the Rhine and onto Autobahn A61 at Sinzig, we picked up our original route on the E40 back to Dunkirk. This went via Aachen, into Belgium (no customs formalities at all, we think we took a wrong turning), and via Liege, Brussels and Bruges to the very end of the E40. (Belgium does use the E road numbers on its signs, unlike Germany - presumably the idea emanated from Brussels.) The motorway ends short of the Belgian/French border and signposts for Dunkirk lead through a tortuous route along a canal and eventually into France and along the N1. The Sally Line terminal is west of the town itself at Dunkerque Ouest, where we arrived at 2.45 pm for the 5 pm boat We spent the 2.5 hour sail enjoying the Smorgasbord again and catching up on English news - we were astonished to learn that the Strangeways Prison was still under siege. Arriving in Ramsgate at 7 pm (English time), we overnighted in Herne Bay at the Beauvalle Bed and Breakfast.

Sunday 22 April Herne Bay-Huddersfield (301 miles)

"What is more blessed than to put cares away, when the mind lays by its burden, and tired with our far travel we have come to our own home and rest on the couch we have longed for?" (Catullus, Fragments)

A relaxed drive back to Huddersfield via the M2, M25, Dartford Tunnel, M11, Al and M1. We again lunched with Eve and Jim in deepest Essex. The day was grey and rainy - this must be England now that April's here!

WHAT NEXT?

And yet you incessantly stand on your head -

(Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)

We aim to continue to support the 3 orphanages we visited in Moldavia through our own efforts and through other groups who travel to Romania. Will you help?

This summer (1990) Barry and Margaret plan to ride their bicycles to the Arctic Circle via Germany (West and East, including Berlin), Poland, Finland, Sweden and Norway. We enclose more information on this journey and a request for sponsorship - all the money we raise will go directly to the Orphanages through the following groups or through our own proposed visit in the Autumn.

Dennis and Julia Return to Romania this Summer

Dennis and Julia Harley plan to return to Romania early in the summer. Dennis was part of the February convoy and the couple had been thrown out of Romania last summer (1989) whilst making contact with Baptists in the Arad area. Their supplies include a motor-bike to help Pastor John visit his congregation in and around Minisel, near Arad. They also plan to go on to Moldavia and continue the contacts we made at Easter. If you want to know more about their plans and perhaps make your own contribution, contact Dennis and Julia at 36 Greenhill Road, Woodseats, Sheffield, S8 OBA.

Our companion in February, Keith Durham of Grimsby College of Technology and Art, is making plans to return to Romania in November. He and his companions are taking a lorry to Moldavia and hope to visit 'our' orphanages. Contact him at Belmont, Melton Road, Wrawby, Near Brigg, South Humberside (Lincolnshire really).

June Spencer and a large, active group at St Edmund's Church in Sprotborough, near Doncaster, have adopted the Casa de Copii Prescolari in Suceava. This Orphanage is home for about a hundred 3 to 7 year olds. The group is collecting supplies and money and plans to travel in August. Please contact them at St Edmund's Church Centre, Anchorage Lane, Sprotborough, Doncaster.

This report contains the names and addresses of numerous individuals and groups in Romania who would very much welcome correspondence, support and fellowship (see 'Romanians Wanting English Penfriends' below). Why not contact one of them yourself? Perhaps you could consider twinning and other forms of long-term support.

Margaret and Barry Williamson have an outline plan to return again to Romania during the half-term break in the Autumn. This will be a flying visit (in their own car) - 3 days out, 3 days there and 3 days back - but it will be a worthwhile way of keeping in touch and taking a little aid.

"Stand not upon the order of your going, but go at once." (Macbeth)

LIST OF GOODS TAKEN

Assorted food tins 33, Grains and cereals 6, Assorted packets 4, Bottles & jams etc 3, Tea and coffee 2, Flour 2, Tins of baby food 3, Packets of baby food 3, Rusks and cereals 2, Children's drinks 2, Milupa 1, Baby milk 1, Soap 9, Baby lotions etc 8, Assorted toiletries 7, Shampoo 1, Toothpaste 1, Toothbrushes 1, Children's clothes 51, Baby clothes 28, Ladies' clothes 10, Men's clothes 9, Toilet rolls 24, Tissues 1, Sanitary towels 1, Disposable nappies 5, Cotton wool 1, Baby bottles and sterilising kits 4, Potties 1, Bandages and first aid materials 3, Home medicines 3, Baby medicines 2, Medical supplies for doctors 6, Vitamins 2, Detergents 4, Disinfectants 1, Clingfilm and plastic bags 1, Books 5, Paper 6, Baby toys 7, Children's toys & pictures 4, Bedding 8, Blankets 5, Hot water bottles 1, Towels 1, Knitting wool 1.

Food 1132 kg Medicines 143 kg Toiletries 649 kg Shoes 237 kg Clothing 2750 kg Books/paper 96 kg

We also carried 100 litres of spare diesel fuel, tools, our own luggage and food for the journey and 13 giant-size soft toys (without which our living room now seems very bare).

No of Boxes = 284 Total Weight = 5007 kg

THE VEHICLE, MILEAGE, FUEL CONSUMPTION AND COSTS

The Vehicle: 7.5 ton Ford Cargo Box Truck with tail lift.

Hired from BRS Truck Rental, Canal Street, Huddersfield. Leeds Manager: Brian Brownsett. Huddersfield Manager: John Gee.

Registration: F366 RVN. Box Length: 20 ft. Box Width: 8 ft. Box Height: 6.5 ft. Box Capacity: 1040 cu ft. Laden Weight: 9000 kg (approx 9 tons)

Cost of Van Hire: £220 + VAT. Period of Van Hire: 16 days

Initial mileage: 92,305 km (57,690 miles). Final mileage: 98,944 km (61,840 miles). Distance covered: 6,639 km (4,150 miles)

Diesel Fuel: 220 gallons (1,000 litres). Total Fuel Cost: £336 (200 litres donated by BRS). Fuel consumption: 18.6 mpg (6.6 km/litre)

Cost of Ferry: £120

Total cost of fuel, ferry and truck hire = £709

Other expenditure includes visas, insurance, handling charges, packing materials, additional food, medicines, thermometers, Easter eggs and sweets.

ROMANIANS WANTING ENGLISH PEN-FRIENDS

The following Romanians are seeking pen-friends for friendship and correspondence in English.

Nicoleta OLARU, Str. Aleea Caminului No. 13A, 5750 FALTICENI, Jud. Suceava, Romania. Nicoleta lives in the orphanage in Falticeni for children up to age 16.

Ada PONEAVA, Str. 23 August No. 188, 2932 SIRIA, Jud. Arad, Romania. Ada is the 19-year old daughter of a priest.

Gheorghe AXINTE, Str. Colonel Vasiliu No. 6a, 6850 DOROHOI, Jud. Botosani, Romania, is a Baptist in Dorohoi, in Moldavia near the Russian border. He would like a correspondent to practise his English.

Pastor Pavel COZMIUC, Str. Marasti No. 17, Bl. 10, Ap. 11, 5800 SUCEAVA, Jud. Suceava, Romania, is Pastor of the Baptist Churches of Bosanci and Falticeni. He seeks fellowship and support.

Liviu-Marian COZMIUC, Str. Marasti No. 17, Bl. 10, Ap. 11, 5800 SUCEAVA, Jud. Suceava, Romania is President of the Association of Young People (Baptists). She would like to hear from young Christians in England, in order to form networks of pen-friends and contacts and to undertake visits.

Pastor Dorin GRADIANU, Str. N. Titulescu No. 24, 6850 DOROHOI, Jud. Botosani, Romania, is Pastor of the Baptist church in Dorohoi and a circuit of 7 small villages around Dorohoi (in Moldavia near the Russian border). He seeks support and fellowship from people in the UK - there is a particular need for bibles and biblical study packs in English and Romanian. He would also welcome books to help people learn English.

DATABASE OF CONTACTS IN ROMANIA

Pastor John: Rev Ioan CUCUIAT, Str Alega Dezna, Block X16, Apt 2, ARAD 2900, Jud Arad.

Pastor: Rev Vasile DRONCA, Str 0 Terezia, Bl 10, Sc A, Ap 15, ARAD 2900, Jud Arad.

Friend: Mr Dan FIZEDEAN, Str Scarisoara Nr 55, ARAD 2900, Jud Arad.

Orphanage: Dr Mariana GEANTA, Leaganul Ptr Copii, Str Vicentiu Babes 11-13, ARAD 2900, Jud Arad.

Pastor: Rev Kiss LADISLAS, Str Cu Cor 35-37, ARAD 2900, Jud Arad.

Friend: Mr Emil LEUCUTA, Bd V I Lenin 43a, ARAD 2900, Jud Arad.

Pastor: Rev Doru POPA, Bd Armata Poporului Nr 13, Apt 5, ARAD 2900, Jud Arad.

Friend: Mr Mihai STOICA, Str Bumbacului Nr 13, ARAD 2900, Jud Arad.

Penfriend: Mr Gheorghe AXINTE, Str Colonel Vasiliu Nr 6a, DOROHOI 6850, Jud Botosani.

Pastor: Rev Dorin GRADIANU, Str N Titulescu Nr 24, DOROHOI 6850, Jud Botosani.

Church: Mr Stefan MARACIUC, Biserica Crestina Baptista, Str Vasile Lupu Nr 1, DOROHOI 6850.

Friend: Mr Gheorghe MIRAUTA, Str Republice Nr 78a, DOROHOI 6850, Jud Botosani.

Orphanage: Dr Anisoara CAPMARE, Casa de Copii Prescolari si Scolari, FALTICENI 5750, Jud Suceava.

Friend: Mr Orest HAPENCIUC, Str Brosteni Nr 74, FALTICENI 5750, Jud Suceava.

Penfriend: Miss Nicoleta OLARU, Str Aleea Caminului No 13a, FALTICENI 5750, Jud Suceava.

VEE (Venture Eastern Europe): Mr Iosif MORGAN, Str Spsipotel Nr 21, IASI 6600, Jud Iasi.

Penfriend: Miss Ada PONEAVA, Str 23 August Nr 188, SIRIA 2932, Jud Arad.

Orphanage: Mr Horia UNGUREANU, Scoala Ajutatoare, SIRIA 2932, Jud Arad.

VEE: Mr Victor BODKARIUK, Str T Vladimirescu 18, SUCEAVA 5800, Jud Suceava.

Church: Rev Dan BOINGEANU, Biserica Crestina Baptista, Str Zamcie Nr 18, SUCEAVA 5800, Jud Suceava.

VEE: Rev Samuel CHIBICI, Str Marasesti Nr 56, SUCEAVA 5800, Jud Suceava.

Pastor: Rev Pavel COZMIUC, Str Marasesti Nr 17, Bl 10 Ap 11, SUCEAVA 5800, Jud Suceava.

Orphanage: Dr Mariana DEDEAGA, Casa de Copii Prescolari, SUCEAVA 5800, Jud Suceava.

Friend: Mr Mircea MITROFAN, Str Tabacarilor 22, SUCEAVA 5800, Jud Suceava.

Orphanage: Dr PETRE, Leaganul de Copii, SUCEAVA 5800, Jud Suceava.

Friend: Cezar POPESCU, Str Emil Bodnaras Nr 21, Bl D1 Sc B Ap 15, SUCEAVA 5800, jud Suceava.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Contributors to the Organisation of the Project

British Road Services in Huddersfield and particularly Brian Brownsett, the Regional Manager and John Gee, the Manager in Huddersfield. Thank you very much for an excellent vehicle, and the first class service, in all senses of the word.

Margaret and Frank Cooper of Huddersfield for their invaluable help in storing relief supplies prior to departure.

The East Kent Shipping Company of Ramsgate for their kindness and efficiency in preparing the paperwork, which survived inspection in several languages.

Dennis and Julia Harley of Venture Eastern Europe and Sheffield for the original inspiration to join the convoy in February 1990, and for their support throughout the project.

Peter Hinchcliffe, News Editor of the Huddersfield Daily Examiner, for carrying our story and encouraging readers to contribute to the project.

The Jubilee Campaign, Northern Office, Shipley, and particularly Malcolm Grainge, Ian Hearne, Paul Bailey. Jubilee gave us good advice, good support and very good headed notepaper.

Mr Pearson, Assistant Director, Kirklees Leisure Service, for enabling us to use storage space in Paddock Village Hall.

Benjamin Longey (Removals & Storage, Huddersfield) for the innumerable occasions on which he and his wife, Nancy, helped us. He gave us advice, storage space, helping hands, boxes, his time and, not least the benefit of his experience and his Yorkshire humour. Thank you Benjamin and Nancy - we got at least 2 extra tons to Romania thanks to you.

Sally Line of Ramsgate for two half-price and very comfortable ferry rides and, not least, two opportunities to smorgasbord.

Colin, Maria and Sebastian Wimpory of Ripon, who supplied the fuel that got us and the relief supplies to Romania (and us back). Your complete unselfishness ensured that the project succeeded - you gave the energy that linked the givers in England to the receivers in Romania.

Linda Alsebrook of the Lundwood Health Centre (near Barnsley), her colleagues, members of her 'Look After Yourself' group, and children of the Richard Newman Infant School at Athersley

Brian Anderson of Scarborough Technical College and Pat Anderson of Ryedale School, Helmsley, North Yorkshire

Jean Ashforth of Middlewood, Sheffield

Sheila Ashworth of Sheffield

Mr and Mrs F Aspinall of Huddersfield

Ann Baguley of Huddersfield Technical College

June Bamford of Huddersfield Technical College

Roger Bancroft of Dean Head, Scammonden

Jenny Barber of Norton College, Sheffield

Helen Barker of Huddersfield Technical College

Tim Barnett of Huddersfield Technical College

Trebor Bassetts Ltd, Sheffield

Sandy Birley of the Children's Hospital, Sheffield

British Tissues of Oughtibridge, Sheffield

Carol and Richard Brook of Lepton and their friends

Alan and Pauline Brown of Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire

Ethel Brown of Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire

Christine Calderbank of Huddersfield Technical College

Mr and Mrs Carter of Harrogate

J K Case of Huddersfield Technical College

Ron Casswell and Foundation Course students (Project 2000) of the School of Nurse Education, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield

Alfredo Chiarello and the staff and students of Rotherham College of Art and Technology

Barbara Colledge of Chesterfield College of Art and Technology

Margaret and Frank Cooper of Huddersfield and friends

Enid Covell of Honley and the Howden Clough High School, Batley

John Covell of Huddersfield Polytechnic and members of the first year Certificate in Education courses at the High Melton Campus of the Doncaster College

Jenny Cox of Walton Hospital, Chesterfield

Mary Crossley of Huddersfield

Mrs C Davies of Pottergate, Helmsley, North Yorkshire and friends

Ted Duggan, formerly of Huddersfield Polytechnic, and Dorothy Duggan

Keith Durham and the staff, students and friends of Grimsby College of Technology and Art

Judy Filippi of Huddersfield Technical College

Peter Firth of High Melton Campus, Doncaster College

Janet Fozzard and the staff, parents and children of Headlands C of E Junior and Infant School, Liversedge

Carmen Franklin of Loxley College, Sheffield, and the parishioners of St John's Church, Chapeltown, Sheffield

Sandie Gingell of Huddersfield Technical College

Sue, Caroline and James Gunstone of Oughtibridge, Sheffield

Monica Haggart, colleagues and students of the Department of Nurse Education, Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport

Helen Hill of Huddersfield Technical College

Mrs Horbury and the staff, parents and children of Grange Lane First School, Rossington, Doncaster

Mrs Jeanette Howe of Barnsley

Janet Hutchinson of Norton College, Sheffield; and the Department of Communications, Sheffield Children's Hospital; and Meersbrook Bank Infant and Junior Schools and Mount View Playgroup

Ian Inglis and the staff and students of Perth College, Scotland

Sarah Jacob of Huddersfield Technical College

Mr Jenkins and the staff, parents and children of Nether Green Middle School, Sheffield

Pam Kearney of Chesterfield College of Art and Technology

Nancy Kenworthy of Huddersfield

Chris King of Rotherham College of Art and Technology and Tony King

The Lions' Club of Holmfirth and Meltham

C S Lobley, Chemist, Wath-upon-Dearne

Hannah Lucas of Parson Cross College, Sheffield; Hoyland Methodist Church and Playgroup, Barnsley; St Mary's Church, Worsborough and Worsborough C of E School; and Birdwell Primary and Junior School, Barnsley

Mrs Martin and the staff, parents and pupils of Royds Hall School, Huddersfleld

Jennifer McKenzie of Huddersfield Technical College and the staff, parents and children of Fixby Primary School, Huddersfield

Jo McMahon of Huddersfield Technical College

Grace Meadows of Middlewood, Sheffield

Jenny Melbourne of Parkwood College, Sheffield, Malcolm Melbourne and their friends; the staff, parents and children of High Green Primary School; and the congregation of Stannington Parish Church

Mr and Mrs Minnis of Ilkley

Caroline Molyneux of Doncaster, and Norton College Sheffield

Jane Monach of Parkwood College, Sheffield

Kate Myall of Huddersfield Technical College

NACRO NCTA Woodcraft Trainees, Rotherham

Margaret Nash of Walton Hospital, Chesterfield

Lawrence F Naughton of Chesterfield College of Art and Technology

Doreen Needham of Huddersfield Technical College and her brothers

Evelyn Nolan of Huddersfield Technical College

Ken Norris of Parson Cross College, Sheffield

Eileen Ogle of Oughtibridge, Sheffield

Mrs Parker of Oastler Avenue, Huddersfield

Sue Parker of Chesterfield College of Art and Technology

Mrs M Parkinson of Barnsley

Mr Potts and the staff, parents and children of Carr House Middle School, Bennethorpe, Doncaster

Chris Shannon of Huddersfield

Margaret Shaw of Huddersfield Technical College

Judy, Robert and Andrew Shepherd of Barnsley

Ken Shipstone of Huddersfield Polytechnic and members of the Certificate in Education course at the Hull College of Higher Education

Jonathan Side of Huddersfield Polytechnic, his friends and relatives

Angela Simpson of Huddersfield Technical College

Keith Squire of Huddersfield Polytechnic

Katrina and Stacey Stead of Images Club, Royston, Barnsley

Larraine Sweeney of Huddersfield Technical College

Eileen Symonds of Penistone, Sheffield

Mrs M Taylor of Essex

Ralph Tuck of Huddersfield Polytechnic, Margaret Tuck and the congregation of St Bartholemew's Church, Marsden, Huddersfield

Eric Wade of Aston Comprehensive School, Rotherham

Lesley Wade of the School of Nursing, Tameside Hospital

Glynis Wadsworth of Lepton, Huddersfield

Mrs Walker of Conisborough, Doncaster

Joyce Weatherill of Huddersfield Technical College

Jayne Whaling of Rockingham College, Wath on Dearne

Mrs Ella Whitaker and friends of Barnsley

Derek and Eileen Whitehead and the Minister and congregation of the United Church, Paddock, Huddersfield

Paul Whitehead of Huddersfield Technical College

Frances Wiggins of Huddersfield Technical College

Eve Williamson of the Cambridge University Science Park

Elizabeth Wilson of Famine Relief, Huddersfield

Gwen Wilson of Sheffield Health Authority

Colin Wimpory of Teesside Polytechnic

Woodlands Fisheries, Thongsbridge, Huddersfield

Helen Wray of Horsforth, Leeds

F I Wright of Barnsley