At the end of May 2021 Rev Preb Maureen Hobbs retired after twelve and a half years as Vicar of Pattingham with Patshull.
Her last Sunday was Trinity Sunday – 30th May. The restrictions in place due to the covid pandemnic meant that to accommodate the numbers who wished to attend there were two services – one at 10 am and the other at 6.30 pm – which were both the same. Both services were streamed live for those who were not able to attend and are still available on YouTube. The morning service is at <https://youtu.be/CvxVlXLbsU8> and the evening service at <https://youtu.be/D62ojOAYDsM>. The sermon which Maureen preached at both services is here.
At the end of the morning service Maureen was presented with a box of chocolates by Clive Pendrell, one of the churchwardens, and a bunch of flowers by Philip Sims, the Vice-Chair of the PCC. Sarah Yeomans, the headteacher of St Chad’s School, gave her a card from the staff and children at the school. (You can see this on YouTube here.)
At the end of the evening service Maureen was presented with a bottle of wine by Dorothy Steel, the other churchwardens. She then gave the churchwardens her keys to St Chad’s and St Mary’s churches to mirror the part of her induction service in 2009 when she was given the keys of the church. (You can see this on YouTube here.)
The card from St Chad’s School (including the inside pages).
It was not possible to hold a party to mark Maureen’s retirement in May but after the covid restrictions had been relaxed a Farewell Tea Party was held in the Village Hall in August. Details and photographs can be found here.